Macron: There is a possibility of sanctions against Iran's missile program

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, arrived in Riyadh on Thursday night, November 9, to discuss the increasing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as Yemen and Lebanon. According to Reuters, Mr. Macron is set to meet and discuss with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. During his stay in the United Arab Emirates, at a press conference in Dubai, he described Iran's activities in the region as very concerning and stated, "There is a possibility of sanctions against Iran's missile program." He added that negotiations with Iran regarding its missile program are necessary. According to AFP, Mr. Macron emphasized Paris's role in ensuring peace and stated that it is important to engage in dialogue with all parties. Yemen and Lebanon will also be focal points of the discussions between the French leader and Mohammed bin Salman. Emmanuel Macron commented on the missile fired by the Houthis that targeted Riyadh on Saturday, saying, "Clearly, this missile was Iranian." Saudi forces managed to intercept the missile in the sky. Meanwhile, Iranian officials and the Houthis claim that this missile was not made in Iran and that the group's forces possess the technology to manufacture it. Previously, Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, accused Tehran of providing the missile that Houthi rebels fired at Saudi Arabia in July. Iran has denied this accusation, stating that the missile belonged to the Houthis themselves. In response to U.S. officials' statements regarding Iran's role in the missile attack on Saudi Arabia and the violation of UN sanctions, France announced that it takes these accusations seriously and urged the Iranian government to comply with all its international commitments. A day after Iran's denial, Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who also holds the position of Minister of Defense, reiterated his country's stance, accusing Iran of "direct military aggression" through the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The political office of the Houthis in Yemen announced on November 7 that "all airports, ports, border crossings, and significant areas of Saudi Arabia and the UAE will be direct targets of our weapons." Earlier, the Kayhan newspaper, which is overseen by a representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, warned that "Dubai is the next target." This has faced protests from the Press Supervisory Board and several media outlets within Iran. Mr. Macron also defended the JCPOA in an interview with Time magazine published on Thursday, stating, "If you want to stop any relationship with Iran regarding nuclear activities, you will create a new North Korea. If you stop the 2015 agreement, what other option do you have? Waging war? Attacking Iran? I really think such an act would be madness in the region." Macron stated, "If you want to stop any relationship with Iran regarding nuclear activities, you will create a new North Korea. If you stop the 2015 agreement, what other option do you have? Waging war? Attacking Iran? I really think such an act would be madness in the region." On Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with the Al-Ittihad newspaper, stated that a firm stance must be taken regarding Iran's activities in the region and its ballistic missile program, but there is no option for the JCPOA, and the mistake regarding North Korea should not be repeated. He added that U.S. pressure on Iran for renegotiating the JCPOA could push Tehran towards developing nuclear weapons. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on October 14 that his administration could not certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement with world powers and left the decision on this matter to the U.S. Congress. Mr. Trump believes that Iran's continued missile activities and the Islamic Republic's regional policies "are inconsistent with the spirit of the nuclear agreement." He also expressed concern about the "sunset clause" in the Iran nuclear agreement. The "sunset clause" pertains to the lifting of restrictions after a certain period of the nuclear agreement with Iran, thus fueling concerns that "Iran could even achieve the capability to build nuclear weapons before the end of the agreement." In this context, it is said that the U.S. government and Congress are seeking to eliminate this "sunset clause," which would lead to the removal of oversight and restrictions on Iran's nuclear program. On Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the "Louvre Abu Dhabi" museum, calling it a bridge between civilizations and religions.