“US Sanctions on Iran are economic terrorism,” said President Rouhani of Iran when he met French President Emmanuel Macron. "It is France's role to make every effort to ensure that all parties agree to a break and open negotiations," the Macron replied. Indicating at the escalated tensions between US and Iran, Rouhani echoed his Finance Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who on a recent visit to the UN in New York had said that The "unlawful, extraterritorial" sanctions "represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbours."
Rouhani and Macron met on Tuesday, where Macron "recalled the need to initiate a de-escalation of tensions." The duo met at the French leader's annual holiday at his summer retreat, the medieval fort of Bregancon on France's Mediterranean coast.
The 2015 deal over Iran's nuclear programme began to unravel since US President Donald Trump announced Washington was pulling out of the agreement last year and reimposed sanctions, to the dismay of European allies. Iran had said that unless the sanctions were lifted, aand has gone ahead and enriched uranium more than 3.67 per cent, as on July 7.
"We have always believed in talks ... if they lift sanctions, end the imposed economic pressure and return to the deal, we are ready to hold talks with America today, right now and anywhere," Rouhani said. It does feel like France wants to hold no bars when it comes to de-escalating tensions between Iran and US, Maccron is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in August ahead of a G7 summit in Biarritz and discuss the Iran issue.
French foreign policy advisor, Emmanuel Bonne has visited Tehran twice in an attempt to engage in diplomacy regarding the issue.
