Qasemi: We Have Repeatedly Told French Officials That the JCPOA Is Not Negotiable

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry urged France not to be influenced by the suggestions of certain parties in the region and added that Iran will not negotiate over its missile program. According to Mehr News Agency on Saturday (November 11), Bahram Qasemi made this statement in response to recent remarks by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France. Macron, who arrived in Saudi Arabia last Thursday, described Iran's activities in the region as 'very concerning' during a press conference in Dubai while staying in the United Arab Emirates, stating, 'There is a possibility of sanctions against Iran's missile program.' He added that negotiations should take place with Iran regarding its missile program. In response, Bahram Qasemi said, 'We have repeatedly told French officials that the JCPOA is not negotiable, and it will not be allowed for other issues to be added to it.' He noted that France is fully aware of the Islamic Republic's 'firm position' that 'Iran's defense matters are not negotiable.' The spokesperson further stated that Iran expects France not to be influenced by the misleading suggestions of some Gulf countries against the Islamic Republic. He advised Macron to be 'realistic, fair, and foresighted' regarding the 'sensitive' developments in the Middle East and the Gulf. Qasemi also recommended that French officials convince their allies in the Gulf region to adopt rational and non-emotional policies and approaches. Macron also commented on the Houthi missile that targeted Riyadh on Saturday, stating, 'Clearly, this missile was Iranian.' Meanwhile, Iranian officials and the Houthi Shiites in Yemen claim that this missile was not made in Iran and that the group's forces possess the technology to manufacture it themselves. In response to Macron, Bahram Qasemi referred to the United Nations report on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, adding that there should not be a significant silence regarding the 'ongoing crimes of Saudi Arabia in Yemen and the constant bombing of civilian centers and the relentless killing of women, children, and innocents in this country.' The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged the French government to take 'concrete measures, including forcing its allies in the region to immediately stop the war and bloodshed to establish a ceasefire and restore peace and stability in Yemen.' Several Saudi officials, including Adel al-Jubeir, the country's foreign minister, have repeatedly claimed the Islamic Republic's involvement in the missile attack on Riyadh. According to the Saudi foreign minister, the Revolutionary Guards transferred this missile to Yemen and 'carried out the necessary coordination for the attack on Saudi Arabia, which could mean a declaration of war.' Despite Iranian officials' denials, General Jeffrey Harrigian, who oversees the U.S. Air Force Command in Qatar, also stated on Friday that the ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards the Saudi capital was Iranian and that 'Iranian signs' were observed on its body. Following the conflicts in Yemen and Syria, relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have soured, and in recent weeks, tensions between the two countries over Lebanon have also increased.