French Foreign Minister: Military Confrontation with Iran Inevitable if Nuclear Talks Fail

The French Foreign Minister warned that if negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear program fail, military confrontation with Iran would be 'almost inevitable.' Jean-Noel Barro stated on Wednesday, April 1, in the parliament of France, 'If the talks fail, military confrontation seems almost unavoidable,' adding that 'this would severely destabilize the region.' According to AFP, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, chaired a meeting about Iran on Wednesday. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has threatened that if a new agreement is not reached with Tehran regarding its nuclear program, secondary tariffs will be imposed and Iran will be bombed. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, stated that he 'does not expect' a military attack on Iran but that Tehran would give a 'strong reciprocal response' to any potential attack. The French Foreign Minister further stated, 'Our trust and belief have not changed. Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.' Mr. Barro added, 'Our priority is to reach an agreement that makes Iran's nuclear program verifiable and limited.' Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Minister, who visited France, said on Thursday that his country does not rule out a diplomatic path to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding, 'There are signs indicating indirect negotiations between Tehran and the United States.' Gideon Sa'ar stated, 'As you know, we do not negotiate with the Iranians, but they have clearly stated that they are ready for indirect negotiations with the U.S., and if such negotiations begin, I would not be surprised.' Axios reported on Wednesday that the White House is seriously considering Iran's proposal to initiate indirect nuclear talks, a proposal reportedly conveyed through Oman. According to this news source, there are ongoing debates within the White House between two factions: one that believes reaching an agreement is possible and another that considers negotiations fruitless and emphasizes attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. Simultaneously, the Pentagon has deployed extensive forces and equipment around Iran to be prepared in case Trump decides to attack. Since the beginning of his second term in January this year, Trump has reinstated the 'maximum pressure' policy from his first term against Iran. He withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA in May 2018 and reinstated severe sanctions against Tehran. Western countries, including the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies, stating that its enrichment activities are solely for 'peaceful purposes.' The French Foreign Minister also announced in parliament that Paris would 'soon' file a complaint against Iran at the International Court of Justice for the detention of two French citizens. He referred to Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were arrested in Iran in May 2022 on charges of inciting labor protests, saying that this complaint would be filed due to 'violations of consular protection rights.' Western countries have long accused Iran of taking its citizens hostage on charges of 'espionage' and 'actions against national security' to use them as bargaining chips for concessions. Mr. Barro stated, 'We will increase pressure on the Iranian regime even more, and further European sanctions against Iranian officials responsible for state hostage-taking will be announced in the coming days.' Nomi Kohler, Cecile's sister, praised these statements and expressed hope that this would help 'advance the case.' She told AFP, 'This is a significant milestone, as Cecile and Jacques's fundamental rights have been violated from the beginning.' Cecile Kohler's last conversation with her family was in early March. Last year, in Esfand, Iran released Olivier Grondot, a French citizen who had been detained in 2022 on security charges, and returned him to France.