France will not approve the lifting of United Nations sanctions against Iran unless it is satisfied with the terms of a final nuclear accord, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated, emphasizing Paris's demand for a significant role in negotiations.
Barrot, speaking to broadcaster franceinfo, also indicated that regional stability hinges on discussions addressing Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for proxy groups, in addition to its nuclear activities.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power, France's assent is crucial for the removal of UN sanctions, a move anticipated as a major concession in exchange for Iran's nuclear commitments. Barrot drew a parallel to previous negotiations, highlighting France's historical involvement.
The recent agreement between the United States and Iran outlines a 60-day timeframe for nuclear program negotiations, with a final deal requiring endorsement from the UN Security Council. European powers, including France, are concerned that an inexperienced U.S. negotiating team might not secure a sufficiently robust agreement or adequately address Iran's missile program and regional activities, potentially leading to a protracted confrontation.
France, alongside Britain and Germany, seeks to influence the upcoming talks, having been largely excluded from recent discussions. These European nations previously engaged Iran on its nuclear program in 2003 and were instrumental in the 2015 deal negotiated under the Obama administration, which aimed to curb Iran's nuclear capabilities in return for sanctions relief. The United States, under President Donald Trump, had previously withdrawn from this accord.
Barrot reiterated France's objective: "Our objective is to get major concessions from the Iranian regime, a radical change in posture. And we will have our word to say, because as a member of the UNSC it will be necessarily linked to the resolution of this crisis."
