Kouchner concerned over Obama's plans to hold direct talks with Iran

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned US President-elect Barack Obama on Sunday of the potential dangers involved in his plans to hold direct negotiations with Teheran, Reuters reported. Kouchner reportedly said that while he welcomed Obama's plans, he was concerned that direct talks between the US and Iranian leaders could hurt the unity of the six powers who have imposed sanctions on Iran - France, Britain, Germany, the United States, Russia and China. "We must warn ... against any form of dialogue that would jeopardize the unity not of the Western side but of the whole of the P5, that is the five (permanent UN) Security Council members plus Germany," the foreign minister was quoted as saying.