Bernard Kouchner
צילום: AFP
France does not believe Iran's nuclear claim
FM Kouchner says Tehran incapable of enriching uranium to 80 percent; 'claim adds to the dangerousness of situation,' he states
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Friday that his country does not believe Iran's claim that it is capable of enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.
Kouchner said the "Americans don't believe, not any more than us, that Iran is currently capable of enriching uranium to 80 percent."
But he added that Iran's claim "adds to the dangerousness" of the situation. Kouchner spoke Friday on Europe 1 radio.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said this week that Iran has the capacity "to enrich uranium more than 20 percent or 80 percent" but that it doesn't intend to build a bomb. A 90 percent-plus level is needed for a weapon.
Iran says its nuclear program is for energy and medical isotopes, but the West fears its long-term goal is to make weapons.
