France has reiterated its condemnation of Iran's threats against Israel after Tehran summoned the French ambassador to the country. "The declarations of the Iranian authorities questioning this right are unacceptable and can only have a negative effect on the perception of Iran by the international community," a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday. "As for our relations with Iran, our attitude remains based on an approach that combines firmness with openness to dialogue," he added. Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Wednesday French Ambassador to Tehran Bernard Poletti over Nicholas Sarkozy's recent remarks about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran also warned that the repetition of such comments would "adversely affect the bilateral ties".
Speaking at the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Monday, Sarkozy said that the Iranian nation was 'unfortunate' to be represented by some of its leaders - a reference to Ahmadinejad. According to the French presidency's official website, Sarkozy said it was 'impossible' for him to 'shake hands' with his Iranian counterpart who did not recognize Israel and questioned the Holocaust.