29 Mar 2024
Tuesday 17 October 2017 - 17:04
Story Code : 279791

Macron seeks to lead EU-Tehran diplomacy as US derailing Iran nuclear deal



Sputnik News- As uncertainty looms over the future of the Iranian nuclear deal, France now seems to be resolved to save the milestone agreement. Such an effort could be "the moment of truth" for European diplomacy, according to Thierry Coville, a research fellow with the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS).



"The stance ofthe French government is similar tothe position ofother European countries that consider this deal very important. This position has been made clear toWashington," Coville said inan interview withSputnik France.


French President Emmanuel Macron has recently spoken abouthis stance onthe Iranian deal inan interview withchannel TF1.

"I hope that we will stay withinthe framework ofthis agreement, and President Rouhani has also pledged tostay. Europe and the other negotiators will stay because we have better control overthe situation and my goal is the security ofthe French people. At the necessary time, Ill be there tohave exigent dialogue withIran. We might have differences butthey should not be unresolvable," he said Sunday.

Macron also announced that he is considering a visit toIran, which if it takes place will be the first visit ofa French leader tothe Islamic republic sincethe 1979 revolution.

Commenting onthe future ofthe agreement, the French president stressed that Washingtons policy towardsIran "will not put an end totheIranian nuclear accordand that together all the parties inFrance and its European partners will continue tomeet their commitments."

According toCoville, the approach embraced byMacron complies withthe policy ofrapprochement betweenParis and Tehran, which began underhis predecessor, Francois Hollande. While some French media outlets portray Macron asa mediator betweenthe US and Iran the analyst pointed outthat the current crisis creates an opportunity forEuropes foreign policytodistant itself fromAmerican diplomacy.
"Of course, the role ofa mediator would be good butI believe that the European Union first ofall should have a foreign policy that is independent fromthe US. This crisis is the moment oftruth forEuropean diplomacy," Coville said.


The Iranian nuclear deal took another hit last week asUS President Donald Trumprefused tocertify that Iran is incompliance withthe accord which he has repeatedly called "bad" forhis country and said that it should be improved. On Monday, he said that the possibility ofcanceling the deal remains a "very real possibility."

Coville, however, stressed that it is hardly possible tofurther improve the agreement which was the result of "extremely difficult negotiations and concessions made byall ofthe parties involved." He also criticized Trumps approach toIran ascounterproductive.
"With his anti-Iranian rhetoric, Trump fuels tensions and inspires anti-American movements inIran. It is hard toimage how his rhetoric could be constructive forthe nuclear deal and the future ofUS-Iran relations," the political analyst concluded.


On July 14, 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group ofcountries, comprising the US, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany, signed the Iranian nuclear deal, also known asthe Joint Comprehensive Plan ofAction (JCPOA).

The deal came intoforce inJanuary 2016, and provides forthe gradual lifting ofeconomic and diplomaticsanctions imposed onTehranbyWestern countries inexchange forclosing Iran's nuclear program.

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