Bernard Kouchner (17 May 2007 photo)

France's foreign minister says world powers should brace for a possible war with Iran over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

In an interview broadcast Sunday on French radio and television, Bernard Kouchner said negotiations to resolve the nuclear standoff with Tehran are the top priority.

But, Kouchner said, in his own words, "We must prepare for the worst, and the worst is war."

He stressed that he does not believe war is imminent.

Kouchner also said his nation and Germany are discussing the possibility of additional sanctions against Iran. He added that France has advised its large companies against doing business with Tehran.

In an interview broadcast of Iranian television Sunday, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his nation will not abandon its uranium enrichment program. That process can lead to the making of nuclear weapons.

And, last week, Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Iran will not stop sensitive nuclear work - as the U.N. Security Council has demanded.

Western nations allege that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian energy program, a charge Tehran denies.

The U.S. and its allies want the U.N. Security Council to impose a third set of sanctions on Iran for refusing to stop uranium enrichment.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.