The Issue of Iran Raised in Meeting of Senior U.S. and French Officials

During the visit of the President and Secretary of State of the United States to France for the centenary of the end of World War I, the leaders of the two countries also discussed Iran; the U.S. Secretary of State is set to meet with his French counterpart today to discuss Iran. According to a spokesperson for the French presidency, Emmanuel Macron emphasized Paris's position on the necessity of maintaining the 'JCPOA' during a closed-door meeting with Donald Trump. The spokesperson stated that Mr. Trump reiterated his stance on 'pressure' on Iran, saying, 'It is necessary to increase pressure on Iran to weaken it.' Macron responded that it might be better for the parties to engage in further discussions and negotiations; the positions of France and the U.S. are 'actually very close.' Macron's spokesperson noted that Trump emphasized that what is needed is 'to achieve a comprehensive agreement that guarantees 100% that Iran will not gain access to nuclear weapons.' Macron himself tweeted that he discussed Iran, counter-terrorism, European defense issues, Syria, and some other matters with Trump, describing the talks as 'very good.' On the other hand, the U.S. State Department stated that during a working lunch on November 20, hosted by Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, is expected to discuss 'cooperation on key global issues, including ways to counter Iran's destructive behaviors and progress on nuclear disarmament in the Korean Peninsula.' According to Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, the foreign ministers also discussed 'increasing NATO's power, countering Iran's destructive behaviors, North Korean nuclear disarmament, and the crisis in Syria' during their first meeting in Paris. The U.S. State Department also stated that the two sides reviewed ways in which the U.S. and France can cooperate to 'counter Iran's destructive behaviors, achieve a denuclearized North Korea, and find a political solution to the Syrian crisis.' Donald Trump exited the nuclear agreement with Iran last spring and reinstated two rounds of sanctions against Iran within a three-month period. The nuclear agreement was formed during the previous U.S. administration with the participation of the foreign ministers of the U.S. and Iran, as well as France, the UK, China, Germany, and Russia. All other countries remain in the nuclear agreement. Macron had previously held discussions with Trump to persuade him to stay in the 'JCPOA,' which ultimately did not yield results. Trump has described the nuclear agreement with Iran as 'one of the worst deals he has seen' and claims that this agreement has not prevented Iran's 'destabilizing' activities, missile tests, and other issues criticized by Washington. For this reason, the Trump administration says it aims to 'apply maximum pressure' on Tehran to force the Islamic Republic to 'change its behavior.' Iran has always emphasized that it is not seeking to build nuclear weapons and has denied accusations of interference in the affairs of regional countries or creating instability. Islamic Republic officials have not yet agreed to new negotiations with the United States, and the Iranian government states that Washington must first fulfill its commitments under the 'JCPOA' for the way to further negotiations to be opened. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, who is ultimately the final decision-maker regarding such negotiations, has expressed his opposition to them in several speeches.