President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a cut in France's nuclear arsenal on Friday but warned most of the weapons will remain as "life-insurance" against new threats from states such as Iran.
"Countries in Asia and the Middle East are rapidly developing ballistic capacities," he said, in a defence policy speech to mark the launch of a new-generation nuclear submarine named "The Terrible".

"I am thinking in particular of Iran," he said, warning that Tehran was "increasing the range of its missiles while serious suspicions weigh on its nuclear programme."

The announced cuts will reduce France's stock of air-launched weapons by a third, but leave France's far larger submarine missile arsenal in place.

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"France will not lower its guard," Sarkozy warned, describing French nuclear deterrence as "the life insurance of the nation."

"Anyone who threatened our vital interests would expose themselves to a severe nuclear response," he said in the northwestern port of Cherbourg in his first major speech on France's nuclear arsenal since he was elected last May.

It is "of course the security of Europe that is at stake," he added.

"It is a fact that France's nuclear forces by their very existence are a key element in its security," he said, urging Europe to join "an open dialogue on the role of deterrence and its contribution to our common security."

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