Kouchner Says France Left With 'No Choice' On Iran Sanctions

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has warned there is "no other choice" but to impose fresh sanctions on Iran over its nuclear and military activities.

Kouchner told the French Senate that Iran had increased the range of its missiles, was not cooperating sufficiently with the UN nuclear watchdog and had spurned "all our offers of dialogue and cooperation," according to AFP.

The United States is pressing hard in the UN Security Council for "biting" sanctions against Iran's leadership and its Revolutionary Guard that are expected to come to a vote next month.

For sanctions to be approved, nine of the 15 Security Council members -- including all five permanent members -- must vote for them.

Among the veto-wielding permanent members, China still opposes new sanctions and Russia remains reluctant.

compiled from agency reports