What is your reaction to the Iranian President’s speech?
Several candidates have lodged appeals contesting the validity of the elections, large segments of Iranian society have protested about the declared results and, at the same time, there have been demands for transparency on the honesty of the elections.
We are continuing to express our views, not on behalf of the Iranians, but in support of what we consider to be completely normal, i.e. the Iranians’ right to expect transparency, the Iranian citizens’ right to know exactly what happened in these elections.
Firstly, we support the process that will allow appeals to be lodged if necessary, and there have been appeals, and secondly, we want the situation to be clarified. Let me remind you that three candidates lodged complaints; in all there are 646 alleged irregularities.
France and the other countries from the international community do not have to choose one side or the other, but we do believe that it is important for Iran, for the Iranian people, for the respect of certain values, such as the respect for democracy and the right to transparency, that these demands by Iranian leaders and people for transparency be met.
In addition, we reaffirm our concern regarding the arrests that have been made and we condemn the repression that has resulted in casualties. I would like to point out that the UN Human Rights Commission has issued a statement on the arrests.
We also reaffirm the importance we attach to the freedom of the press, the freedom of information, the freedom of communication. We indicated this in our exchanges with the Iranian authorities - whether it be in Paris or in Tehran.
What exactly are you demanding of the Iranian authorities?
These are not international demands, they are demands by the Iranian people and Iranian leaders, in particular the major candidates in the presidential election who are contesting the honesty of the elections.
It will be up to them to say whether they think this responds to that demand.
Do you support the demands made by the other candidates in the presidential elections?
We support the need for a credible and impartial investigation that will get to the bottom of what happened in these elections.
We support the demands made by several of the candidates in the presidential election and large segments of the Iranian population for transparency, and the right to transparency and to the truth.
Do you have any comment regarding the IAEA Director General’s statement on Iran and Syria?
You know that we are calling on Iran, as well as Syria, since both countries are named in the International Atomic Energy Agency reports, to respond to the demands included in the IAEA Director General’s reports and in the Security Council resolutions.