Is Iran the next North Korea? Macron warns world needs to stop Tehran’s nuclear ambitions

The centrist said scrapping the nuclear deal would be
a mistake, and offered to mediate between the US and
Iran, whose leaders are feuding over Iran’s nuclear
programme.
The French President said the Iran nuclear deal “was
not enough” in light of Tehran’s increased influence in
the region and unwavering determination to press
ahead with ballistic missile tests.
Mr Macron, who has gained the international
community’s respect for his unbending stance on
aspiring nuclear powers, including Iran and North
Korea, added that it would be an error to scrap the
landmark deal.
Mr Macron told reporters in New York on the sidelines
of the UN general assembly: “Is this agreement
enough? No. It is not, given the evolution of the
regional situation and increasing pressure that Iran is
exerting on the region, and given the increased activity
by Iran on the ballistic level since the accord.”
Emmanuel Macron warned the world needs to crack
down on Iran's nuclear ambitions
Iran nuclear deal
teeters on brink:
Clash over 'worst
deal ever'
Emmanuel Macron
warns Trump of
'grave error" over
Iran nuclear deal
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Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of
Iran
Tehran
agreed
to limit
its
nuclear
programme in return for the lifting of sanctions in a
deal signed by France, Britain, China, Germany, Russia,
the US and Iran in July 2015.
The 39-year-old centrist also floated the possibility of
imposing sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile
programme, adding talks on what is to happen after
the limitations to the accord begin to be lifted in 2025
should be held “immediately,” as should a discussion
on the role of Iran in the region.
He said: “Let’s be honest, tensions are on the rise,
look at the activities of Hezbollah and Iran’s pressure
on Syria. We need a clear framework to be able to
reassure regional countries and the United States.”
Mr Macron then offered to act as a “mediator”
between the US and Iran, whose leaders Donald Trump
and Hassan Rouhani have oft-times accused each
other of violating the “spirit” of the nuclear
agreement.
Mr Macron added he had not given up convincing Mr
Trump – who has threatened to scrap the “worst ever”
nuclear deal – to change his mind and stay in the
agreement.
The French President added he believed that he had
nevertheless been successful in convincing his
American counterpart to allow France and the United
Nations to play a mediation role between Tehran and
Washington with regards to the situation in Syria,
where Iran has been the Syrian government’s core
backer.
Kim Jong-un's repeated missile tests have sparked
worldwide condemnation
Mr Macron said: “The United Nations Secretary
General and France will play the role of mediator for
Iran so that we have a parallel negotiation, but that
will enable us to include Iran in the process.”
It comes as tensions between the United States and
North Korea escalate as Pyongyang continues to build
up its nuclear arsenal.
Kim Jong-un’s repeated missile tests and recent
hydrogen bomb experiment have sparked worldwide
condemnation.

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