France pushes for wider scope in Iran nuclear negotiations

France has said it wants to play an active role in the next phase of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and will not support the lifting of United Nations sanctions unless it is satisfied with the terms of a final agreement.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that any final accord would require endorsement by the UN Security Council, where France holds veto power as a permanent member, and that Paris would have a decisive say in whether sanctions are lifted, Iran International reports.

“The return for major concessions that will be asked of Iran is the lifting of sanctions, sanctions that were taken at the United Nations,” Barrot told franceinfo.

The United States–Iran agreement reached this week provides for 60 days of negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme, with a final deal expected to be submitted for approval by the Security Council.

Barrot stressed that France intends to remain closely involved in the process, particularly regarding the scope of any sanctions relief.

He added that regional stability would require the talks to address not only Iran’s nuclear programme but also its ballistic missile development and support for allied non-state groups.

“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,” Barrot said.

By Vafa Guliyeva