Macron: U.S. Pressure Will Only Yield Results if the JCPOA Persists

The French President states that U.S. sanctions can only bring Iran to the negotiating table if European countries can ensure the durability of the JCPOA and prevent power from falling into the hands of hardliners in Iran. According to Reuters, Emmanuel Macron said on September 25 that U.S. sanctions against Iran, which he claims reduce the Islamic Republic's financial resources for expanding its power in the region, may 'accelerate the process we desire' due to European efforts to mediate and keep the JCPOA alive. He emphasized that hardliners within Iran want to cancel the JCPOA and warned that the main danger of the pressure strategy on Iran is that it could push the Islamic Republic towards 'resuming its nuclear activities.' He added, 'Therefore, if we want to have a chance for this pressure on Iran to yield results, we must ensure that Iran does not move towards a worse option under the influence of these pressures.' These remarks came just hours after Donald Trump, the U.S. President, harshly criticized Iran's nuclear and regional policies at a UN Security Council meeting, stating that the Iranian regime, given its history, 'should never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.' Trump also warned countries around the world to either comply with U.S. sanctions against Tehran or face 'severe consequences.' During the same session, Macron defended the JCPOA, stating that the Iran issue cannot be resolved with 'sanction and limitation policies' and emphasized the need for a long-term strategy regarding Iran. The French President had also criticized the U.S. decision to withdraw from the JCPOA at the UN General Assembly, stating that unilateral actions and 'the law of the jungle' cannot lead to a resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President, also called for the U.S. to return to the JCPOA and urged the United States to 'return to the negotiating table it disrupted.' Since the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, the European Union has been working to maintain the nuclear agreement without the United States. On September 24, following a meeting of the foreign ministers of the five remaining countries in the JCPOA and Mohammad Javad Zarif, a statement was issued emphasizing their 'commitment to pursuing specific actions' to ensure payments and the continuation of Iran's oil exports. The statement highlighted 'pursuing commitments... specifically for real and effective actions to guarantee payment channels to Iran and the continuation of oil and gas condensate exports, as well as petrochemical and oil products.' In contrast, Washington has repeatedly warned the European Union in recent times, especially in recent days, about violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.