If Iran’s nuclear programme were intended purely to generate electricity, it would provoke no international concern. The conduct of the Iranian regime shows that its intentions are far from peaceful, however. The failure of international negotiations at Geneva to secure even an interim deal is entirely attributable to Tehran’s obduracy. There should be no let-up in diplomatic pressure or sanctions until Iran demonstrates beyond argument its intention of abiding by its international obligations. It is entitled to a civil nuclear programme; it does not have the right to, and must not acquire, nuclear weapons.

Representatives of the Iranian regime and of the six international powers known collectively as the P5 plus 1 group (the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China) talked extensively to try to break the diplomatic stalemate. The proximate cause of their failure to come to a formal agreement was the objection of France to a draft proposal that would have slowed certain elements of Iran’s nuclear programme, in return for which the international powers would have eased economic sanctions.

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