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Last update - 06:35 24/09/2007 Sarkozy urges tougher Iran sanctions, warns French firms By Reuters Tags: Sarkozy, France, Iran  French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for tougher international sanctions against Iran's nuclear program and warned French oil giant Total and gas firm Gaz de France to refrain from investing in Iran. In an interview with The New York Times, published on the newspaper's Web site late on Sunday, Sarkozy pointedly eschewed his foreign minister's talk of preparing for war with Iran but said more pressure must be applied to make Tehran renounce its nuclear ambitions. "It's not true that there is no solution between surrender and war," Sarkozy said, according to a text released by his office. Advertisement "Between surrender and war, there is a range of solutions that exist like the reinforcement of sanctions which will eventually have an effect," he said, calling for a third U.N. resolution tightening economic restrictions on Tehran. If the U.N. Security Council was unable to agree on another resolution, Sarkozy said he would support the European Union adopting additional sanctions. The French leader, in New York to attend his first United Nations General Assembly session since his election in May, said he had urged Total and Gaz de France to refrain from bidding for new projects in Iran and told French banks to stop doing business there. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana played down French calls for the 27-nation bloc to consider its own sanctions against Iran, saying there had been no discussion of such an idea in the EU to date. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said last week he saw no prospect of the U.N. Security Council agreeing tougher measures on Iran because of Russian and Chinese resistance, so the Europeans should consider their own measures to hit credit, investment and insurance. But Solana told reporters in New York, where he will attend the annual United Nations General Assembly session, that no such idea was on the EU's agenda. "That debate has not started for the moment in the EU. There has been one statement (by Kouchner) but I can tell you the EU as such has not started debating that issue. No country has put that kind of issue on the table," he said. Foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are due to meet on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday to discuss how to apply further pressure on Tehran. Russia and China have argued that there should be no third sanctions resolution while Iran is cooperating with the U.N. nuclear watchdog to clear up questions about its past nuclear program. Asked about another round of sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters "the third track" was an invention "by the Americans and the French, not us." Washington and Paris argue that the process with the International Atomic Energy Agency should not be used to delay further action, since Iran continues to defy the Security Council by continuing with uranium enrichment. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Meeting Carter Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial. Family pressure Shin Bet admits using relatives to pressure jailed Palestinians.   1.   Sanctions are good for business (and smart politicians) 11:33  |  Natallie Durson 24/09/07   2.   Jewish money got him in office 14:44  |  Harold 24/09/07   3.   Recession in France 14:48  |  Harold 24/09/07   4.   Amazing Sanctions Rhetoric 15:09  |  joebhed 24/09/07   5.   Welcome back France 15:15  |  ottomatik 24/09/07   6.   This is very wise position 16:20  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 24/09/07   7.   As long as we are talking sanctions. . . . 17:54  |  MichaelF 24/09/07   8.   Sarkozy 20:53  |  P. J. Casey 24/09/07   9.   France finding her niche? 20:27  |  Bshon C Price 08/12/07   10.   IRAQ/IRAN 22:13  |  BRIAN 14/04/08

Read & React Jimmy Carter: Israel must talk to everyone Responses: 215 Livni to tell Gulf leaders in Qatar: Iran the threat, not Israel Responses: 61 IDF probing why Palestinians held 16 hours at checkpoint Responses: 72 Israel and U.S. sign nuclear cooperation agreement Responses: 49 Rosner's Domain Is neoconservatism Jewish? (WTR) Poll: Were you convinced that America should stay in Iraq? Is Israel finished? (WTR) The rabbi, the preacher and love of Israel More Headlines 22:21 Livni, in Doha: Gaza becoming 'obstacle' to Palestinian statehood 22:05 Barak orders renewed entry of diesel fuel to Gaza Strip 22:26 Obama hits the G-spot 22:27 Carter offers to act as 'communicator' between Hamas, U.S., Israel 22:34 Despite terror warnings, Israelis expected to flock Sinai in Pesach 18:59 U.K. Jews to ex-pats in Israel: Fight far-right in London vote 21:04 Shin Bet reaches out to English, Arabic world with new web sites 19:03 Court: No state funds for Sderot homes under Qassam threat 22:01 Blair: Int'l aid would flow into Gaza if political change occured 21:12 Kiryat Shmona mayor convicted of series of bribery, fraud charges Previous Editions Select Day 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar

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