04/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a wide-ranging interview published in Le Monde of 3 and 4 September, Kofi Annan, when asked about Iran, said, “There are times when a little patience brings great results. (…) Iran says that is intention is to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. I urged them to prove it to the world, including to the atomic agency and the UN”. On the subject of the prisoners in Lebanon and Israel, the UN Secretary General said that “Iran must work with us” to release the two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah, and added, “Of course, there are Lebanese prisoners too. I offered all sides my good offices. (…) Yes, they accepted, and I can play this role in many different ways”. Mr Annan, who reiterated that the Israeli blockade on Lebanon “is not tenable”, and also said, “When we have 5,000 soldiers (belonging to the reinforced UNIFIL: Ed.) and 16,000 Lebanese soldiers are deployed, Israel will have to withdraw (from Lebanon). I believe they realise this”. The behaviour of Hezbollah “during and after the war, shows a high degree of organisation and discipline,” said Mr Annan, recalling that it would be up to the Lebanese authorities to disarm Hezbollah. He remarked, “There will be so many troops in the South, both international and Lebanese, that there won't be any room for Hezbollah”. Mr Annan said that President Assad, with whom he spoke on Friday, had told him “that he would cooperate on the border issue” and that he was “ready to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon”.