Countries across the Middle East will want to acquire nuclear weapons if Iran is allowed to develop an atomic bomb, Israeli president told a French newspaper ahead of a meeting Sunday with his French counterpart.

Countries across the Middle East will want to acquire nuclear weapons if Iran is allowed to develop an atomic bomb, Israeli president told a French newspaper ahead of a meeting Sunday with his French counterpart.

Shimon Peres said he appreciated France's firm stance in negotiations earlier this month on Iran's nuclear program, adding that there should be "no let-up" in the international pressure on Tehran.

"We are convinced that if Iran manufactures its bomb, all the countries of the Middle East will want to follow suit," the Israeli president told French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche.

Peres will meet Francois Hollande on Sunday when the French president begins a three-day visit to the Zionist entity.

His comments echo those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged France in an interview Saturday to stand firm in international negotiations.

France took a tougher line than its Western partners in Geneva talks earlier this month aimed at resolving the impasse.

The Zionist entity -- the Middle East's sole albeit undeclared nuclear power -- has repeatedly warned its Western allies they were being too soft with Iran.

The P5+1 negotiating with Tehran is made up of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.

The talks are due to resume in Geneva in the coming week.