'Significant' questions remain on Iran nuclear issue says Hollande

(MENAFN- Arab News) PARIS: France said Friday that 'significant' questions remained before a deal on Iran's nuclear programme can be struck after its foreign minister met his Iranian counterpart.'Laurent Fabius raised with Mohammad Javad Zarif the significant questions that remain to be solved' according to a statement from the French Foreign Ministry.Zarif also met US Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris earlier Friday to discuss negotiations for a nuclear deal.The pair who held marathon talks in Geneva earlier this week in a bid to nail down a deal were taking the opportunity to meet again in the French capital on separate diplomatic trips.Their talks lasted just under an hour a US official said.The new Zarif-Kerry talks came as their negotiators were also meeting in Geneva.Global powers leading the talks known as the P5+1 are due to open negotiations on Sunday in the Swiss city as a deadline looms for a comprehensive deal which would rein in Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for relief from a tight network of sanctions.Both sides have remained tight-lipped about whether any progress is being made.Earlier speaking to Paris-based ambassadors from around the world Hollande said: 'Our response has to be firm in the face of terrorism. It can only be collective.''We are waging a war against it (terrorism) but not a war against a religion but a war against hate' he said.'The attacks in Paris are an insult to Islam' stressed the president reiterating that 'Muslims are the main victims of terrorism.''The most lasting response is firm and unified action for peace and international security. Because unresolved conflicts are sources of inspiration for terrorists and areas of chaos are their training ground' he told diplomats.Hollande took aim at movement Boko Haram who he said were carrying out 'crimes of humanity' in Nigeria.'France must give more help to countries fighting this scourge' he pledged.'It's not just women being kidnapped. That's already atrocious enough. It's children being massacred. It's villages whole towns being razed' he said in reference to recent Boko Haram attacks.