France urged to be cautious regarding Iran

TEHRAN, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the Iranian government Wednesday urged France to be cautious regarding its policies toward his country in light of others' failures.

Government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said in a statement that France should not simply follow other countries' unsuccessful stances regarding Iran in order to preserve "the credibility of the French people," Alalam Satellite TV reported.

Elham was responding to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's recent comments that the international community should be ready for "war" regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Yet speaking at a news conference in Tehran Wednesday, Elham downplayed such comments by labeling them a mark of inexperience by new French President Nicolas Sarkozy's administration.

"It will take time for them to become professionals," Elham said. "We don't take these statements seriously."

Alalam reported Elham also said his nation did not view itself as being "in any kind of war situation," despite Kouchner's comments.