French president says Paris will engage with the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump on the ‘Iranian question’.
French President Emmanuel Macron has identified Iran as the primary “strategic and security challenge” for Europeans in the Middle East, expressing apprehension about Tehran’s nuclear program.
Addressing French ambassadors stationed worldwide on Monday, Macron also criticized Iran for supporting what he described as “dangerous groups” throughout the Middle East and assisting Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine.
“The rapid advancement of the nuclear program is nearing a critical point,” Macron stated.
France was a participant in the 2015 nuclear agreement where Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions – a deal that was terminated by the US in 2018.
Following the US withdrawal from the agreement, sanctions were reinstated on Iran’s economy, prompting Iran to intensify uranium enrichment, reducing the time required to obtain materials for nuclear weaponry from months to weeks.
Although Iranian officials have consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, recent Israeli attacks on Iran and its allies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, have raised concerns of Iran’s potential pursuit of nuclear arms for regional deterrence.
Tensions between Iran and Western nations could escalate further as former US President Donald Trump is set to return to the White House later this month.
During his previous term (2017-2021), Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear agreement and initiated a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.
Furthermore, he authorized the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020, bringing the two nations to the brink of full-scale conflict.
Despite presenting himself as an advocate for peace, Trump appointed several foreign policy hardliners who advocate for regime change in Iran to key positions in his upcoming administration.
Macron declared on Monday that France intends to engage with the new US administration regarding the “Iranian question.”
Macron also addressed the conflict in Ukraine by urging the US to help persuade Russia to engage in diplomatic discussions.
He cautioned against Ukraine capitulating, emphasizing that compromising due to “fatigue” could undermine the credibility of Western nations.
While the US and Western allies have provided significant military and financial support to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Macron stressed the importance of realistic territorial discussions for a resolution.
Ukraine has expressed its commitment to reclaiming all territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
