PARIS: France accused Iran yesterday of pursuing a secret military nuclear programme, drawing a swift rebuke from Teheran ahead of talks next week on a Russian proposal for resolving the dispute.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Iran's nuclear work, which Teheran says aims to generate electricity for its energy-hungry economy, could not possibly be designed for civilian uses alone.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani responded with a warning to the West not to hector Teheran, a heated exchange that boded ill for talks in Moscow on Monday on a Russian compromise aimed at ending the row peacefully.

Russia has offered to enrich Iranian uranium on its soil and return it to Iran for use in atomic reactors, thereby easing international concerns Iran could produce bomb-grade uranium.

"No civilian nuclear programme can explain the Iranian nuclear programme. So it is a clandestine Iranian military nuclear programme," Douste-Blazy told France 2 television. "The international community has sent a very firm message by saying to the Iranians: 'Come back to reason. Suspend all nuclear activity and the enrichment of uranium and the conversion of uranium'," he added.

"They are not listening to us," said Douste-Blazy, whose comments drew a swift reaction from Teheran.

"I suggest that Mr Douste-Blazy use a diplomatic tone and avoid increasing the tension," Larijani told Iranian television. "His motivation for making such comments is unclear for us. But adopting a logical stance towards Iran's nuclear activity better serves the interest of the region," he said.

China urges diplomatic resolution

China urged a diplomatic resolution of the standoff, a day after the United States said Teheran was defying the international community by resuming enrichment.

"We're extremely concerned about the status of the Iranian nuclear issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news briefing. "It's extremely important for the international community to uphold the consensus on resolving the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means and call on the related parties to maintain calm, restraint and patience."

He said China is ready to continue to make its own efforts with international community to seek for an early and proper solution to the Iran nuclear issue.

Source: China Daily