France And Iran - Tit for Tat

Iran summoned France’s ambassador in Tehran, Bernard Poletti, on February 3 over what it described as France’s unfriendly attitude with regard to Tehran’s nuclear program and in response to the French Foreign Ministry summoning Iranian Ambassador Ali Ahani on February 1, international news agencies reported.

Ahani was summoned over recent hostile remarks about Israel made by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (see “RFE/RL Newsline,” January 31, 2008). Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said at his weekly press conference in Tehran on February 3 that the Iranian envoy should not have been summoned because Ahmadinejad pointed out some “realities” about Israel.

Hosseini deplored the fact that France “has ignored” Israeli actions in the region and its “threats” against Iran. He also criticized plans by the French to open a base with 500 soldiers in the United Arab Emirates, calling it a threat to the Persian Gulf’s security, Radio Farda reported. France signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates in January to build a permanent base, due to become operational in 2009, Radio Farda reported.

Source Radio Free Europe

Copyright (c) 2008. RFE/RL, Inc.

Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,

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