Sputnik News- France's President Emmanuel Macron has called for amending a nuclear agreement with Tehran and covering its ballistic activity. The remarks indicate Macron's push for a diplomatic game rather than his plans to isolate Iran, French political commentator Thierry Coville has told Sputnik.
Thierry Coville, expert onIran atthe Institute ofInternational and Strategic Relations inFrance, said that inhis opinion, the French President is first and foremost trying todefuse tensions.
According tohim, "it is very important forEuropeans and French tomaintaina nuclear agreementwithIran."
"I see it asa clever move onhis part. He tells the Saudis, and ultimately the Americans: let's not touch uponthe nuclear agreement [with Tehran], let's focus onwhat concerns you, namely, Iran's ballistic program and its regional policy," Coville said.
He added that if France wants toretain credibility withboth countries, it should not pretend that it supports "this or that side."
"It is important tomaintain balance. It's not aboutinsultingSaudi Arabia, butat the same time, hostility towardsIran is also irrelevant," Coville pointed out.
He was echoed byformer French ambassador toIran Francois Nicoullaud, who said inan interview withSputnik that France should clarify its position duringtalks withIran.
He recalled that the Iranians believe that its ballistic program pertains tothe sphere ofdefense, and that there cannot be any negotiations onthis because this is the most important component ofIran's sovereignty.
"[Regarding hegemony inthe region],Iranbelieves that it has a very positive, decisive and even the most important role inmaintaining balance and stability ofthe political situation. [] That is, Iran has something tosay toMacron onthis issue," Nicoullaud said. \
He warned that the nuclear agreement should "remain inthe form inwhich it currently exists, because it will be too difficult tochange it.
"During the negotiations [on the agreement], a very clear and delicate balance was found. If you try tosomehow influence this balance, the entire agreement may collapse," Nicoullaud concluded.
During his visit tothe United Arab Emirates last Thursday, Macron said that the Iranian nuclear agreement "must be preserved" but "complemented withtwo pillars."
In particular, the French President signaled his willingness torenegotiate the question ofthe "ballistic activity ofIran" and discuss "Iranian hegemony throughoutthe region."
At the same time, inan interview withTime magazine, Macron criticized Trump forhis unconstructive stance onIran and made it plain that cutting ties withTehran overthe nuclear issue would make it a new North Korea.
In July 2015, the European Union, Iran and the P5+1 group ofnations comprised ofthe United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan ofAction, commonly known asthe Iran nuclear deal.
The document stipulates a gradual lifting ofsanctions imposed onTehran inexchange forguarantees ofa peaceful Iranian atomic program.