On Friday, in his first important speech on France’s nuclear arsenal since being elected president, Mr. Sarkozy said he planned to reduce the country’s nuclear warheads to less than 300, which is half of the maximum number of warheads France owned during the Cold War.

He also pledged to develop a strong nuclear weapons program in order to protect the country from threats such as Iran.

“Everyone must be aware today that powerful nuclear missiles can reach Europe in less than half an hour,'' Sarkozy said, according to Bloomberg.

“I am thinking in particular of Iran,'' Sarkozy said in a speech to military personnel. “Iran is increasing the range of its missiles, while serious suspicions surround its nuclear program. It is Europe's security that is the issue.”

The United Nations Security Council has sanctioned Iran several times for refusing to abandon its program of uranium enrichment. Iran claims that its nuclear development has as aim electric generation and does not concern building nuclear warheads.

France and U.K. are the only countries in Western Europe with nuclear weapons. Russia, Pakistan, India and China all have nuclear arsenals.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new nuclear submarine, The Terrible, Sarkozy mentioned the importance of France’s nuclear warheads for Europe.

“French nuclear forces, by their mere existence, are a key element to its [Europe’s] security,” Sarkozy told France’s neighbours in what he called “an open dialogue.”

According to the Federation of American Scientists, France is believed to have 348 deployed nuclear weapons, including 288 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, 50 air-launched cruise missiles and 10 airborne bombs.