"If Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons, the international community, not Israel, will bear the responsibility to stop it," French President Francois Hollande said Friday at a press conference in Paris after a meeting with his Israeli counterpart at the Elysee Palace.
"Iran is not just a danger to Israel but a danger to the Gulf Region, to Europe and to the whole world," the French leader said.
He said France's position is that "we should strengthen the economic sanctions against Iran, they are effective, they are working."
Peres praised the French president for his strong stance, together with the US, against Iran and said that Iran is developing nuclear weapons for mass destruction, long range missiles, hangs people in the streets, operates terror networks across the world and disregards human rights.
"We must monitor the means of delivery. Why is Iran developing long range missiles which can carry nuclear warheads? There is no doubt that we must monitor both the uranium enrichment and the means of delivery," he said.
He stressed once again that "all options remain on the table with regards to the Iranian threat."
During their working lunch, Hollande and Peres also discussed the situation in Syria and Lebanon, the peace process with the Palestinians and the strengthening of the defense, diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and France.
During the joint press conference, President Hollande addressed the formation of a government in Israel – which is expected to be announced next week- and said that he hoped the new government will move forward on the peace process with the Palestinians and will forgo prior conditions for negotiations.
"France stands by Israel and the Palestinians and will help, in any way she can, to progress peace. France will continue to invest in the Palestinian Authority economy and in its development," he said.
But he reiterated that the building of settlements "creates divisions and makes progressing with the peace process more difficult."
President Peres stressed that "there is no solution other than the two state solution" and that Israel has a real and brave partner for peace. "Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) is a supporter of peace and an opponent of terror. I believe that when a new government is formed in Israel the peace process will start once again. We are anticipating the visit by President Obama to Israel, his visit is an important opportunity to restart the negotiations."
During the press conference, Hollande was asked about France’s stance on the Hezbollah issue regarding the investigation into the terror attack which killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian citizen in Burgas last year.
"We will draw all conclusions from the ongoing investigation and the European Union will come out with a common position," Hollande said.
President Peres insisted again, like he did this week during his meetings in Brussels with EU leaders, that the Lebanese group must be blacklisted as a terror group by the international community.
"Hezbollah is destroying Lebanon from within, it is cooperating with Assad's dictatorship in Syria, is a loyal proxy of Iran and has become the world's largest collector of missiles."
"Hezbollah is responsible for murderous terror attacks across the world, including on European soil as we witnessed in Burgas."
Peres has invited President Hollande to come to Israel on a state visit. The French President responded positively to the invitation and said he intends to visit Israel during 2013.