The diplomatic failure in Iran’s dealings could lead to military conflict, the French foreign minister warned.
The French Foreign Minister warned of potential military conflicts if new agreements on Iran’s nuclear program cannot be reached.
After a high-level meeting in Iran, chaired by President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barott said the diplomatic “windows of opportunity” is narrow in Tehran.
European powers are trying to create a diplomatic pathway with the aim of reaching an agreement to curb Iran’s uranium enrichment activities by the middle of this year ahead of the October 2025 deadline related to UN sanctions related to the UN agreement on nuclear programs with Iranian world powers.
Tehran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, claiming that its program is peaceful.
“The windows of opportunity are narrow. We’ve only had a few months to match this (2015); in case of failure, military conflict seems almost inevitable,” Barot told Congress.
“Our confidence and beliefs remain the same,” Barott said. “Iran should never acquire nuclear weapons,” he emphasized that France’s priorities have secured a “verified and durable” agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear activity.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA), which provided sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear restrictions, collapsed after US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions.
Since then, Iran has far surpassed this trade limit on uranium enrichment, producing stocks with fission purity that is well above what Western countries say is justified in civilian energy programs and is close to what a nuclear warhead needs.
The European powers have tried to pressure Iran to return it to nuclear debate. They held several consultations with Iran to try to lay the foundations, including last week’s technical level.
However, the Trump administration initially focused on a “maximum pressure” campaign.
Trump urged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to immediately engage in negotiations and threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs if he failed to get caught up in a deal over a nuclear program over bombing and secondary tariffs on Sunday.
Khamenei has promised retaliation for any attack.
Official reports from Tasnim News reported that Dutch counterparts and Foreign Minister Abbas Arakich reaffirmed their consultations with Dutch counterparts on Wednesday.
Araqchi reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program complies with international regulations. He said Tehran will remain open to true negotiations if it occurs on equal terms without coercion, threat or threat.
He also condemned recent US statements about Iran, calling them unacceptable and a violation of international principles. Araqchi warned that Iran will respond promptly and decisively to any attack on its sovereignty, territorial integrity or national interests.
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