The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) criticized your use of the word ''war.'' Are you willing to accept the agreement that he reached with Tehran in August?
I am willing to accept that agreement and to give the IAEA director the time needed to go there and to ensure that it is implemented. I admire and respect Mr ElBaradei. I say to the international community that we absolutely must allow another chance for an agreement to be found between the West and Iran, on the basis of a suspension of the uranium enrichment programme.

Should France perform a broker role between the West and Iran? 
Yes, this is our intention. I have been so misunderstood that the time has come to reestablish the honesty and transparency of my approach. We do not oppose dialogue with the Iranians - on the contrary. We have always maintained it. I myself have received Ali Larijani (chairman of the Iranian Security Council, in charge of Iran's foreign policy and defence) in Paris; I am due to meet with my Iranian counterpart in New York; not a week goes by without my telephoning Mr Larijani. We say to all those who misinterpreted words taken out of context that we are willing to persevere with the dialogue with the Iranians, without fear of failures. No failure will make us abandon the necessary dialogue: a solution must be found. Above all, I do not want to attribute ulterior motives to Iran, though some observers believe that the agreement that Iran reached with the IAEA is a way of playing for time. All the world's experts are worried.

What about the Arab countries? 
They are even more worried than we are. Basically, it is ''yes'' to a permanent dialogue with Iran. ''Yes'' to the efforts made by the IAEA. In the meantime allow us to devise targeted sanctions in order to convince the Iranians that we are in earnest. I am a resolute champion of multilateralism. My keenest wish is for these sanctions to be adopted by the Security Council. But this does not prevent us from working to draw up targeted sanctions with our European partners. 

Would you be willing to go to Tehran, if you were to be invited?
Yes.

Should France adopt the position of honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, too?
Thank you for suggesting that formula, since if this were to hamper negotiations that seem perhaps to be leading to something, then it would not be a good thing to interfere. Ever since the foundation of the State of Israel, France has been at its side. We are resolutely determined to continue struggling, for its existence of course, but also for its security. But at the same time, we remain the Palestinians' friends. France is one of the few that can say that it is friends with both sides. Of course, France is available to move peace forward. I now have the impression that a hope has been born, because there is a rapport between Ehud Olmert (Israeli prime minister) and Abu Mazen (Palestinian [National] Authority president.) The president and I are resolved to support this approach and to take part in the international conference announced by Condi Rice (US secretary of state) in November, if we are invited to attend.

What do you expect from this conference? 
If we can achieve recognition, albeit symbolic, of a Palestinian state, we will be happy. We know that there would still be many practical questions to resolve - borders, demilitarization, refugees, and so forth. On these questions there are already plans in existence, which could serve as starting points. 

Does your preference lie with the Geneva accords?
Idealistically, intellectually, and emotionally, yes. Politically, we must be pragmatic: we must recognize actual conditions on the ground as they are. France's advantage is that it is emotionally close to people, and that it is acknowledged to be so. And that it has demonstrated perseverance, during the past 60 years, in trying to resolve this conflict. 

Are your efforts with a view to a national dialogue in Lebanon proving successful?
I was in Beirut last Thursday [13 September]. I believe that we have made some progress, that the spirit of La Celle Saint Cloud (the conference at which Kouchner convened representatives of the 14 Lebanese parties in conflict, 14 July - Le Figaro editor's note) has begun to make itself felt. A connection was becoming established among these very diverse actors, who were for too long enemies. But I have just heard, with very great sorrow, about the terrible attack carried out on deputy Antoine Ghanim, whom I welcomed to La Celle Saint Cloud. France stands by the side of Lebanon in the face of this policy of terror. Those behind it must know that they will never achieve their goals. As the presidential election approaches, the time has come for all Lebanese to rally together. Political dialogue, to which Antoine Ghanem contributed, remains the only solution to the crisis.