JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) — French President Francois Hollande yesterday laid out four demands which must be in place for an agreement with Iran to successfully rein in its nuclear programme.

“France is in favour of an interim agreement, but on the basis of four points,” he said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

“The first demand: put all the Iranian nuclear installations under international supervision, right now. Second point: suspend enrichment to 20 per cent. Thirdly: to reduce the existing stock.

“And finally, to halt construction of the Arak (heavy water) plant. These are the points which for us are essential to guarantee any agreement,” he said.

His remarks were made on the eve of a new round of talks in Geneva between world powers and Iran seeking to reach an agreement to scale back Tehran’s contested nuclear programme.

A previous round of talks ended on November 10 without agreement, with France taking a tougher stance than its Western partners in a move which won glowing praise in Israel.

Standing next to Hollande, Netanyahu said he was “gravely concerned” that attempts to sign a deal would succeed.