France’s ex-intelligence chief to travel to Iran on mission - report

Paris, Jan. 19 - The French daily Le Figaro reported on Thursday that France’s former intelligence chief will travel to Iran next week on a mission to convince the Islamic Republic to play a cooperative role to resolve the political deadlock in Lebanon.

Jean-Claude Cousseran, who headed France's foreign intelligence agency (DGSE) from 2000 to 2002 and is a former ambassador to Egypt will be travelling to Tehran on the orders of French President Jacques Chirac as part of a new diplomatic overture to Iran.

The report, which quoted “diplomatic sources”, said that Cousseran is very familiar with Middle Eastern politics.