ABU DHABI: French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on Sunday that Iran would likely change tactics on its nuclear programme for fear that sanctions might spark a domestic backlash. "Discontent among the Iranian people over the prospect of sanctions could make the regime change tack," Douste-Blazy said in Abu Dhabi as he wrapped up a brief visit to the United Arab Emirates. "The regime may fear the reaction of its own public opinion," he told a joint news conference with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan. "If it appreciated the risk of isolation hanging over the country, it would not be ready to pay the price of it," he added, stressing the importance to the Iranian regime of a negotiated settlement of the standoff over its nuclear programme. Iran said earlier said the question of it suspending uranium enrichment as demanded by the international community was a "thing of the past".