Reuters

French President Nicolas Sarkozy delivers his speech at the annual Representative Council of France's Jewish Associations (CRIF) dinner in Paris on Wednesday. Picture: Reuters/Jacky Naegelen

Paris- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has put his reputation as a stalwart friend of Israel on the line, warning that military action is no way to deal with nuclear-minded Iran.

In the wake of new US concerns that Israel might strike Iran’s nuclear facilities early this year, he reiterated his iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security, but emphasised “the solution is never military”.

He was speaking on Wednesday night at a dinner hosted by France’s main Jewish group – and addressing his possible presidential election rival in the audience.

Referring to a string of UN sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West fears mask designs to build weapons, Sarkozy said: “The solution is political, the solution is diplomatic, the solution is in sanctions.”

“We want the leaders of this country to understand that they have crossed a red line, and to reassure Israeli leaders so that the irreparable is not carried out,” Sarkozy, whose grandfather was Jewish, said of possible military action.

Tehran, whose Islamist leaders have called for Israel’s destruction, insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and aimed at generating electricity and civilian-sector projects.

France’s best-known Jewish organisation, CRIF, hosted the president and his most probable challenger in this year’s election, Socialist Francois Hollande, with a who’s who of the governing elite. –

Sapa-AP