France says Iran still developing nuclear arms

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

Iranian navy fires a ground -to-sea "Nasr" cruise missile during the "Velayat-90" naval wargames in the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran on January 2, 2012. ABACA photo

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Tuesday that Iran was continuing to develop nuclear weapons and called for stronger sanctions against Tehran.

"Iran is pursuing the development of its nuclear arms, I have no doubt about it," he told French television I-Tele. "The last report by the International Atomic Energy Agency is quite explicit on this point." "This is why France, without closing the path of negotiation and dialogue with Iran, wants stricter sanctions, " he added.

He said French President Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed a freezing of assets of Iran's central bank and an embargo on exports of Iranian oil, a move also being considered by the European Union.

Tensions have risen in recent days after Iran -- which insists its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes -- test-fired a series of missiles near the key Gulf oil supply route of the Strait of Hormuz.