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France warns US against Iran action

IRNA

London, Oct 18, IRNA -- French foreign minister, Dominique de 
Villepin warned the US Saturday that any military action against 
Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons would be "absolutely 
ridiculous". 
In a wide-ranging critique of US policy in the Middle East 
and beyond, De Villepin also denounced Washington`s pursuit of 
forcible regime change is not a viable or safe policy in the 
dangerous world that exists after the events of September 11, 2001. 
"Regime change can not be a policy on its own in today`s 
world," he said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper. "You 
have to be respectful of sovereignty." 
His warning about US policy comes amid reports that the 
French Foreign Minister is considering taking part with his UK 
and German counterparts in an unprecedented joint trip to Teheran 
next week to try to defuse the crisis over Iran`s nuclear program. 
The three countries have been holding discussions in Tehran 
with the aim of reaching an agreement to provide technical help 
to Iran`s civilian nuclear project in return for full compliance 
with the UN. 
The British Foreign Office said that it could not confirm the 
visit but a spokesman confirmed that discussions were taking place 
with France and Germany on how best to address the widespread 
international concern. 
The joint diplomatic mission would be seen as a unique united 
European foreign policy after the bitter disputes over the war in 
Iraq, in which Britain sided with the US against France and 
Germany. 
In a speech to be broadcast on the BBC on Sunday, de Villepin 
was set to call for a new triumvirate of London, Paris and Berlin 
to lead an expanding European Union. 
"Together with Germany, our three countries have the political 
will, the economic significance and the military capabilities that 
can shape our continent," de Villepin will say, according to an 
advance copy of the text. 
The French Foreign Minister was also expected to call not to 
repeat the mistakes made in Iraq and to press the case for a peace 
conference to be convened in a bid to relaunch the Middle East 
peace process. 
In his interview with the Guardian, he questioned Israel`s US- 
backed security policies and said that Europe should play a vital 
role in advancing the peace process, not least because of Europe`s 
close trade and aid links with both sides. 
"I think that Israeli policy during the past months and years 
shows clearly that if you are going to imagine that only through 
security you are going to find solutions, you are mistaken," de 
Villepin warned. Using force is going to have a "contrary" reaction. 
In spite of last Thursday`s UN Security Council resolution on 
Iraq, he suggested that the conditions for real progress on the 
reconstruction of Iraq were still "not complied with today." 
"Reconstruction has to have a partner, you have to have real 
sovereignty in Iraq if you want to have the Iraqi people working 
with you," the French Foreign Minister told the daily. 
HC/213 
End