French President Nicolas Sarkozy assessed that Israel "would not stand by while Iran develops nuclear weapons," Al Hayat quoted sources close to the French leader on Saturday.
"Israeli
might take action to prevent the Iranian regime, which wants to wipe it
off the map of the world, from obtaining a nuclear bomb," Sarkozy
reportedly explained to visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Saed Hariri.
According to Saturday's report in the London-based Arab daily,
Sarkozy told Hariri that France had proof that Teheran was working to
develop a nuclear bomb.
The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the report.
In
related news, Sarkozy called Friday for harsh sanctions against the
Islamic Republic to pressure Teheran to enter negotiations over its
nuclear program.
"France wants the [UN Security] Council to adopt strong
measures and for the European Union as well to assume its
responsibilities," Reuters quoted Sarkozy as telling diplomats based in
France.
"Despite all our efforts,
and a new engagement by the United States, and despite our ambitious
proposals for cooperation, the Iranian authorities are blocked in a
one-way street of proliferation and radicalism," the French president
reportedly asserted.