France wants concrete gestures from Iran on nuclear question

The French government said on Tuesday that it expected "concrete gestures" from Iran to establish confidence in talks between the international community and Tehran on nuclear questions. Answering questions on Iran, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said that France "has taken note" of the election of Hassan Rohani, last weekend. Rohani is considered to be the least hawkish of the presidential candidates and his first comments seem to suggest an openness to discussion on nuclear questions but no renouncing of Iran's rights in that area. France declared itself "ready to work with" Rohani and determined to find "a long-term diplomatic solution" to the nuclear stand-off that has brought four UN Security Council resolutions against Iran, and a dozen or more from the International Atomoic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as punitive sanctions from many quarters beginning in late 2006 when the dispute came to a head. "We expect Iran to make concrete gesture to establish confidence with a view to full implementation of the United Nations Security Council and IAEA resolutions," Lalliot said. Separately here, the international press freedom body Reporters Without Borders (RWB) reached out to Rohani and reminded him of his campaign promises to further freedom of speech and expression. RWB called for the immediate and unconditional release of 54 journalists and bloggers imprisoned in Iran before Rohani's election.