The French Foreign Ministry on Friday reiterated the hope to solve Iran's nuclear issue through peaceful and diplomatic means.

The French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told the media that France has always adhered to the principle of solving Iran's nuclear issue thorough diplomatic channels, as French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has affirmed that his country doesn't approve of solving the problem by military means.

Mattei said France noticed that Iran had not expressed the will to reopen nuclear talks, and that the European Union (EU) was considering to impose possible sanctions against Tehran after it refused to meet a demand to suspend all uranium enrichment related activities by Aug. 31, set out in UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1706.

EU foreign ministers issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that if Iran does not comply with UNSC's requirements, the EU would "work for the adoption of measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter," which stipulates economic and diplomatic sanctions.

The spokesman noted that posing sanctions against Iran wasn't aimed at punishing the country, but to exert pressure to make Iran come back to the negotiating table. He stressed that the door to hold talks with Iran remains open.

Iranian officials have criticized the EU statement, saying it would destroy the opportunity to resolve Iran's nuclear issue peacefully, and worsen the crisis in the Middle East.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is totally peaceful, but the United States accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, and intends to push for UN sanctions against the country.

Source: Xinhua