French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Monday urged Iran to reverse "immediately and unconditionally" its decision to resume its controversial nuclear activities.

"We urge Iran to immediately and unconditionally reverse its decision," Douste-Blazy said at a joint news conference with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

"The situation is serious and all the efforts should be made to convince the Iranians to return to the previous situation, the negotiation," said Solana.

The minister said that France was "very seriously concerned" by Tehran's decision.

France along with Britain and Germany has represented the Europeans to lead negotiations with Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. The European troika is to meet on Jan. 18 in Vienna with Iranian officials in charge of the controversial nuclear program.

"The effective resumption of these activities would clearly and directly contravene the demands made by the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency," Douste-Blazy said.

"No identifiable civilian need can justify the resumption of these activities today in Iran ... doubts remain whole about the nature of Iran's nuclear program," the French minister said.

Source: Xinhua