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| France warning of war with Iran | France warning of war with Iran |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the world should prepare for war over Iran's nuclear programme. | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the world should prepare for war over Iran's nuclear programme. |
| "We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," Mr Kouchner said in an interview on French TV and radio. | "We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," Mr Kouchner said in an interview on French TV and radio. |
| He was speaking ahead of a visit to Russia on Monday, during which Iran is likely to feature prominently. | |
| Iran's nuclear programme will also be one of the main issues for the UN nuclear watchdog's annual conference, starting in Vienna on Monday. | |
| Iran denies it is trying to acquire nuclear weapons - as the US and other Western states believe - but says it intends to carry on enriching uranium. | |
| Tougher approach | |
| Mr Kouchner said negotiations with Iran should continue "right to the end", but that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose "a real danger for the whole world". | |
| He said a number of large French companies had been asked not to tender for business in Iran. | |
| "We are not banning French companies from submitting. We have advised them not to. These are private companies." | "We are not banning French companies from submitting. We have advised them not to. These are private companies." |
| "But I think that it has been heard and we are not the only ones to have done this." | "But I think that it has been heard and we are not the only ones to have done this." |
| He said France wanted the European Union to prepare sanctions against Iran. | He said France wanted the European Union to prepare sanctions against Iran. |
| The shift in Paris is part of a broader change of diplomatic gear under a young and dynamic president Jonathan MarcusBBC diplomatic correspondent New France gets tough | |
| "We have decided that while negotiations are continuing to prepare eventual sanctions outside the ambit of UN sanctions. Our good friends, the Germans, suggested that," he said. | "We have decided that while negotiations are continuing to prepare eventual sanctions outside the ambit of UN sanctions. Our good friends, the Germans, suggested that," he said. |
| Since becoming foreign minister earlier this year, Mr Kouchner has not shied away from controversy. | Since becoming foreign minister earlier this year, Mr Kouchner has not shied away from controversy. |
| Last month he was quoted as saying the Iraqi government was "not functioning" and seemed to hint that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki should resign, provoking an angry reaction from Baghdad. | |
| The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says France has changed its approach to world affairs under its new President Nicolas Sarkozy, adopting a harder line on several issues, and seeking to improve relations with the United States. | |
| But it is the tougher rhetoric aimed at Tehran which will please Washington the most, he says. | |
| Until now the UN Security Council has imposed economic sanctions on Iran, but did not allow for military action. | Until now the UN Security Council has imposed economic sanctions on Iran, but did not allow for military action. |
| The United States has not ruled out a military attack against Iran to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. | The United States has not ruled out a military attack against Iran to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. |