France Once Again Calls for Strengthening Iran's Nuclear Agreement After 2025

France has once again defended the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and suggested that discussions be held to strengthen Iran's nuclear agreement after its expiration in 2025, warning that the failure of this agreement could push Iran's neighbors towards nuclearization. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, told reporters on Monday, September 18, that "it is vital to preserve this agreement to prevent nuclear proliferation. In a time when we are facing the threat of North Korea, we must maintain this path." He also stated that another reason for preserving the Vienna nuclear agreement is to prevent encouraging "Iranian hardliners" to acquire nuclear weapons. The French Foreign Minister expressed that "France will try to convince President Trump to consider this option (preserving the Iran agreement) even if it requires adding an amendment to this agreement (after 2025)." Le Drian, speaking on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasized that the failure of the Iran nuclear agreement would fuel an arms race in the region. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, is scheduled to meet with his American counterpart Donald Trump on Monday during the UN General Assembly, and discussions regarding the Iran nuclear agreement are likely to be a focal point of their talks. Key U.S. allies are concerned that America may withdraw from the JCPOA. Under this agreement, Iran agreed to halt many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting or suspension of international sanctions against Tehran. Mr. Trump has called the JCPOA "the worst deal ever." It is expected that Washington will adopt a different policy regarding the Iran nuclear agreement in October, when it must report to Congress on Tehran's compliance or non-compliance with the agreement. The Trump administration has repeatedly stated in recent months that the Islamic Republic has not adhered to the "spirit of the JCPOA" and has cited Iran's role in destabilizing the Middle East as the reason for this non-compliance. This is not the first time France has called for negotiations to complete the Vienna agreement after its expiration. On August 30 of this year, Agnes Romatet-Espagne, the spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, quoted Emmanuel Macron as saying that "the Vienna agreement after 2025 could be accompanied by a series of necessary measures regarding [Iran's] ballistic missiles and be completed." She added, "These measures could be the subject of future consultations with our allies." However, neither the spokesperson of the French Foreign Ministry at that time nor the Foreign Minister on Monday provided details of Paris's potential proposals for completing this agreement. In his remarks on Monday, Jean-Yves Le Drian also referred to North Korea's missile and nuclear tests, stating that the "very severe" pressure from sanctions will eventually force Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, to return to the negotiating table to end his missile and nuclear activities. He emphasized that "there is no need to use military leverage." The French Foreign Minister stated, "The only possible way to bring North Korea to the negotiating table is to apply very severe pressure." The UN Security Council imposed a new round of sanctions against Pyongyang last week following North Korea's sixth nuclear test, which was the most powerful since 2006. The Security Council is set to meet at the ministerial level this Thursday to discuss ways to implement sanctions against this country, which will largely depend on China, North Korea's largest ally.