AFP, 05 October 2008 (excerpts) – French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned in comments published on Sunday that Israel would strike archfoe Iran before it succeeding in developing nuclear weapons.

“I honestly don’t believe (a nuclear weapon) will give any immunity to Iran,” Kouchner said in an interview conducted in English with Israel’s Haaretz newspaper during a two-day visit to the region.

“First, because you will eat them before. And this is the danger. Israel has always said it will not wait for the bomb to be ready. I think that (the Iranians) know. Everyone knows.

Kouchner said he hoped tough diplomacy and sanctions would persuade Iran to halt its uranium enrichment programme, which Israel and many Western countries believe is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

“Iran with an atomic bomb is unacceptable at all… Talking, talking talking, and offering dialogue, sanctions, sanctions, sanctions. Is the alternative to bomb first — I think not