French President: I Have No Replacement Plan for the JCPOA

The President of France has stated in an interview with an American television network that he has no 'replacement plan' for the nuclear agreement with Iran, and the United States should remain in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) until a better option is found. Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with Fox News aired on Sunday, April 21, expressed: 'I do not have an alternative plan for this agreement. Let’s keep this framework because it is a better option than what we see regarding North Korea.' He stated that he intends to 'complete' the Iran nuclear agreement by responding to Iran's ballistic missile program and its role in the region. The French President is scheduled to travel to the United States on Monday, April 22, for a three-day official visit, which includes a speech to the U.S. Congress. He and Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, are expected to persuade Donald Trump, the President of the United States, not to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement. Mr. Trump is a strong opponent of the JCPOA and has repeatedly stated that it is the worst agreement he has ever seen. He has given his European allies until May 12 to address the 'disastrous flaws' of the nuclear agreement with Iran, or the United States may not extend the suspension of sanctions on Iran under the JCPOA and withdraw from it. France, Germany, and the UK have been negotiating with the U.S. for several months to convince Washington to impose sanctions on Iran due to its missile program and its role in the Middle East. In the latest meeting of EU foreign ministers, these sanctions were not approved by Italy and Austria, and the decision was postponed to future European leaders' meetings. Iran and six world powers reached an agreement in July 2013 regarding the resolution of Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of its sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA over the past three years, but the Trump administration claims that Tehran has violated the 'spirit of the JCPOA' and has not played a positive role in creating peace and stability in the region and the world. Warning about Iran's 'aggression' in Syria, Mr. Macron, in another part of his interview with Fox News, stated that the United States, France, and their other allies will play a 'very important' role in the reconstruction of Syria after the defeat of Islamist militants and the end of the war. He warned that if these countries quickly leave Syria, Iran, as the main ally of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, will turn the country into its playground. Donald Trump has recently stated that he intends to quickly withdraw American forces from Syrian territory. Last week, Syria was the scene of missile and air strikes by the United States, France, and Britain in response to a 'chemical attack' on the city of Douma. The Presidents of France and the U.S. are expected to discuss this issue in their meetings.