Chirac Urges Bush to Offer Iran Incentives

Reuters, Yahoo! News:

French President Jacques Chirac said Tuesday he had urged President Bush to help European negotiations to curb Iran's nuclear program by offering incentives on trade and aviation.

"It seems to me legitimate to make a gesture in the area of Iran's bid for WTO membership and wish to buy civil aircraft engines," Chirac told a news conference after talks with Bush on Monday night.

"I don't see why that shouldn't be done and I said so to the president of the United States," he added. ...

The civil aircraft engine market is dominated by three large companies, General Electric, Pratt and Whitney and Rolls Royce, two of which are American and the third of which is subject to U.S. pressure over technology transfers.