France respects Iran and will continue dialogue with the Islamic country over its nuclear program, the European country’s Foreign minister said.

France's foreign minister said on Tuesday that additional sanctions should be imposed on Iran in connection with the country's nuclear program. Western countries, led by the U.S., suspect the Islamic republic of harboring ambitions to produce a nuclear weapon.

French oil group Total says it has not made any new acquisitions or investments in Burma since 1998, after French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday urged the company to freeze investments in the southeast Asian country.

Siemens Power Generation (PG) is to construct a turnkey combined cycle power plant in Saint Avold in the Lorraine region, France. The customer is Endesa France, whose principal shareholder is the Spanish power company Endesa with a holding of 65 percent. The contract is valued at approximately EUR360 million, and the plant is scheduled to go into operation in early 2010.

More than four decades after quitting NATO's military wing, France may be considering rejoining. Critics say the move is largely symbolic, since Paris is already an active member in the transatlantic alliance.

The French National Assembly has adopted legislation tightening immigration requirements. The senate has not yet examined the bill, which includes a controversial provision for voluntary DNA testing. But, from Paris, Lisa Bryant reports the measure reflects a choosier France - and Europe - when it comes to immigration policy.

Prime minister of France pledged to balance the budget before the end of his term. "The truth is that I am the head of a state that is in a state of bankruptcy due to its financing plan," Prime Minister Francois Fillon said in the Corsican city of Calvi. Fillon answers to President Nicolas Sarkozy, but heads the French government.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy Thursday stressed that his nation does not want war with Iran. In a televised interview, Mr. Sarkozy said he would not have used the word "war" when discussing possible outcomes of the dispute between western nations and Iran about Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

France said on Thursday that the European companies should reduce their investments in Iran and not seek new markets there. President Nicolas Sarkozy's spokesman said such measures were being considered because it could take time for the U.N. Security Council to agree on tougher sanctions against Tehran.

France doesn’t take orders from Washington, but no longer has a policy of "permanent anti-Americanism” as under Jacques Chirac, the French foreign minister said Wednesday.

The foreign ministers of Russia and France will hold talks on Tuesday expected to focus on Iran, two days after Bernard Kouchner said Paris should prepare for possible war with Tehran.

France’s warning that if Iran continues developing a nuclear weapon, the European country will declare a war, was not taken seriously, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday.