French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy criticised Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal for saying Iran should not be allowed to build a civilian nuclear programme.
Royal: Iran should not be allowed to build a civilian nuclear programme
Ms Royal said in Israel on Monday that if she was elected next year she would oppose Iran building a nuclear programme, including one for civilian uses, because its atomic ambitions were the greatest threat to Israeli and world security.
"Questioning Iran's right to have civil nuclear energy ... as Madam Royal has proposed, would actually be against the non-proliferation treaty which has been signed by most countries in the world," Mr Douste-Blazy said at a news conference called to address Royal's comments.
France backs limited United Nations sanctions against Iran after Tehran rejected a UN demand that it suspend enrichment. Iran says its nuclear programme is for electricity generation.
Ms Royal's trip has been the subject of heavy criticism from her opponents in the ruling UMP party which is expected to put up Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy as the right's candidate to take on Royal in the 2007 election.
She was twice forced to explain herself out of embarrassing situations, giving the opposition a chance to say she was out of her depth and unprepared for the trip to the volatile area.
Ms Royal, who would be responsible for French foreign policy if she is elected next May, visited Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and wrapped up her trip in Israel on Monday.