Allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons would incur an unacceptable risk to stability in the region and the world and could lead to war, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the United Nations on Tuesday.

"There will be no peace in the world if the international community falters in the face of nuclear arms proliferation," Sarkozy said in his first speech to the UN General Assembly, as cited by Le Monde.

In an interview with the New York Times published on Monday, Sarkozy said that if the UN Security Council was unable to agree on further financial sanctions, the European Union should take its own measures to raise pressure on Iran.

Last Monday French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned against the "real danger for the whole world", should Iran acquire nuclear weapons.

France will insist on a tougher EU stance against Iran, unless the country gives up its plans to continue enriching uranium, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.

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