France: New US Policy Strengthens Conservatives in Iran

The French Foreign Minister says that the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and its new policy of increasing pressure on Iran will not only strengthen hardliners in Iran but may also endanger the entire Middle East region. According to Reuters, Jean-Yves Le Drian made these remarks early Wednesday (May 22), two days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Washington's decision to impose 'the toughest sanctions in history' against the Islamic Republic. Pompeo threatened Iranian officials that if they do not abandon their policies in the Middle East and their missile program, they will face this strict US policy. In response to these statements, Le Drian said on Wednesday: 'We oppose this approach because this set of sanctions that is to be imposed on Iran does not help dialogue and, on the contrary, strengthens conservatives and weakens President Rouhani. This situation could expose the region to greater dangers.' Mr. Le Drian added that France and the US agree on concerns regarding Iran's missile program and the Islamic Republic's 'expansionist' policies in the Middle East, but emphasized that in his view, the JCPOA is the best opportunity to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb. Following the announcement of the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, European countries have stated that they will remain in the agreement. They have urged Iran to adhere to its commitments and have reported efforts to find a way to escape the stringent US sanctions against European companies operating in Iran. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, has also met with several European officials following the Supreme Leader's statements about the need for 'practical guarantees' from Europe. According to Reuters, on Friday, deputies from the foreign ministries of the remaining JCPOA countries are set to meet with their Iranian counterparts in Vienna. They intend to explore ways to preserve the JCPOA and protect European companies from US sanctions. European companies are concerned about the new US sanctions, and several of them have announced that they will halt their activities in Iran following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA. Jean-Yves Le Drian also stated that the return of US sanctions against Iran is 'unacceptable' and 'we cannot consider them legitimate and legal.' He acknowledged Iran's economic benefit in exchange for signing the JCPOA as the country's right while expressing concern for the security of European companies wishing to trade with Iran.