Diplomacy not war will resolve Iran crisis-France

PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters) France is convinced diplomacy can still resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis and does not believe the United States is planning to attack Iran, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said today.

Douste-Blazy told reporters that leaders in Tehran were divided over the way Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was handling the nuclear dossier, raising hope that negotiations could eventually bear fruit.

''In France we believe a diplomatic solution is possible ... Our conviction is that there is no military solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis,'' he said.

Asked if he thought the United States might launch a military strike to try to destroy Iran's nuclear programme, ouste-Blazy said: ''The US tells us that a military option is not on the agenda. We have absolutely no reason to doubt them on that.'' The United States has denied that is planning for war, but some defence analysts have pointed to the recent dispatch of a second US Navy carrier group in the Gulf as an indication that tensions were rising.

The United Nations in December imposed sanctions on Iran after it refused to stop enriching uranium. Tehran says its nuclear programme is purely for civilian purposes, while the West thinks it is trying to build a bomb.

Ahmadinejad said last Sunday Iran was ready for talks, but ruled out suspending its uranium enrichment.

Douste-Blazy said the speech was ''unacceptable'', but held out hope that Iran might shift its stance.

''For the first time there is a real debate in the heart of Iran to see if Ahmadinejad is following the right strategy.'' Iranian analysts and officials say the debate is more about tactics aimed at avoiding provoking the West, but say Iran's leadership remains determined to press ahead with mastering the process to make nuclear fuel.

Adding to the tensions, officials of US-led forces in Iraq said at the weekend that the ''highest elements'' of Tehran's government was involved in arming Iraqi militants.

Asked about this, the French foreign minister said: ''I don't believe any neighbouring country has any interest in chaos in Iraq, because they would be the first to suffer.'' Reuters KD GC1743