France's President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned Iran that its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles could invite a preemptive strike.

"Its military nuclear and ballistic ambitions constitute a growing threat that may lead to a preventive attack against Iranian sites that would provoke a major crisis that France wants to avoid at all costs," Sarkozy said Wednesday, as cited by Defense News.

Sarkozy did not specify will countries could be involved in a potential preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, a major issue in Iran's relations with the West, with the USA and EU seeing its nuclear program as a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the ensuing international regime.

Both the USA and Israel are usually mentioned either separately, or together as candidates for launching a strike on Iran over its nuclear program, which according to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is designed solely for peaceful purposes.

France's President Nicolas Sazkory, however, blamed Iran for the tension generated by its nuclear program.

"Iran refuses to negotiate seriously," he told an annual meeting of French diplomats. "Iran is carrying out new provocations in response to the challenge from the international community for it to provide a credible response."

Sarkozy said France would work with its allies to build support for tougher international sanctions against Tehran's Islamist regime, in a bid to force it to back down over its enrichment program.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!