France has warned of the possibility of military confrontation if Iran fails to comply with a new nuclear agreement with the international community.
Speaking after a high-level meeting on Iran chaired by President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot cautioned that the “window of opportunity” for diplomacy with Tehran was rapidly closing.
He stated that the European Union was working towards a diplomatic solution to restrict Iran’s uranium enrichment, aiming for an agreement by mid-year, ahead of the October 2025 deadline.
However, Tehran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting that its programme is entirely peaceful.
“The window of opportunity is narrow. We only have a few months until the expiration of this (2015) accord. In the event of failure, a military confrontation would seem to be almost inevitable,” Barrot told parliament.
“Our confidence and our conviction remain intact,” he added. “Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.” He stressed that France’s priority was securing a “verifiable and durable” agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear activities.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which provided sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear restrictions, collapsed after US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions.
Trump, who has urged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to engage in immediate negotiations, warned on Sunday that Iran could face bombing and secondary tariffs if it failed to comply with nuclear restrictions.
Khamenei has vowed retaliation for any attack.
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