MNA – Senior Adviser to Iran’s Leader Ali Akbar Velayati said the new US administration seeks to drop the nuclear deal, an approach in contrast with France’s policy toward the accord.

Ali Akbar Velayati, Head of Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council, made the remarks in a meeting with former French Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine on Tuesday in Tehran.

“Iran-France relations have seen some ups and downs, but have always remained positive,” Velayati said, adding “I appreciate France’s positive position toward the nuclear deal and how the position is in contrast with the policy of the new US administration which seeks to cancel the JCPOA.”

Iran has a deep influence in the region and can have good cooperation with France in this regard, he added.

Velayati went on to note, “despite six years since the outbreak of crisis in the region, the proxy wars and the support of certain regional and Western countries for terrorism and extremist groups, we are now witness to the victories of the legitimate and independent governments of Syria, Lebanon and Iraq in these fights.”

“These governments now enjoy more stability and security than before, and Western countries must adopt an independent policy [from US] based on the realities of the Middle East,” he said.