Iran's Foreign Ministry has criticized French President Nicholas Sarkozy for saying Iran is working on creating nuclear weapons.
Ina statement published by Iran's ISNA news agency Thursday, ForeignMinistry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said the French president'sremarks were in contradiction with the International Atomic EnergyAgency's findings.
He said the comments were politically motivated and far from realistic.
Earlierthis week, Mr. Sarkozy said French intelligence services are certainIran is working on nuclear weapons and he raised the possibility offurther sanctions against the nation.
Western nations haveaccused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Iran insists itsnuclear activities are peaceful and not subject to negotiation.
France is scheduled to take part in October 1 talks with Iran, along with the U.S., Britain, Germany, China and Russia.
TheWhite House says Mr. Obama spoke with President Sarkozy on the phoneTuesday to discuss ways of bringing Iran into compliance with itsinternational obligations.
The U.N. Security Council hasimposed three sets of sanctions on Iran for refusing to freeze uraniumenrichment work that has both military and civilian uses.
EUforeign policy chief Javier Solana said Tuesday Western powers willmaintain their strategy of offering incentives to Iran to suspenduranium enrichment and threatening further sanctions if Tehran refuses.
In Vienna Tuesday, Iran's nuclear energy chief Ali Akbar Salehiindicated his government is ready for "deeper cooperation" with UnitedNations nuclear inspectors. He did not elaborate and the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency did not comment.