France is threatened by a nuclear Iran as the latter has missiles in development that can reach that part of Europe. Of course even more worrisome is how much trouble they would cause in the region with nuclear weapons. Their funding of terrorists groups in the ME is now a threat to their Arab neighbors as well.
France is stating the obvious for world consumption. The Iranian mullahs are framing the nuclear issue as one of soveriegnty to pursue nuclear energy. Go to the BBC just a few weeks ago and you will see how many people speak to this issue in terms of the propaganda Iran exudes to the world.
It's both shocking and repulsive.
Don't ask me, I don't have a plan. I'm not John Kerry damnit.
Iran has been a threat to France in many ways, including nuclear weapons, for a long time. Suddenly France is noticing this. I think the recent (pre-cartoon) riots of the mostly Muslim "youths", followed by the barbaric response to the cartoons, may be the explanation.