Macron stressed to US President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Thursday the importance of abiding by the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, ahead of a decision by the US president that could re-impose sanctions on the country.
“The president ... recalled France’s determination in favor of a strict application of the agreement and the importance of its respect by all of its signatories,” the French presidency said in a statement, according to Reuters.
“The proper implementation of the agreement should be accompanied by a strengthened dialogue with Iran on its ballistic program and its regional policy, in order to guarantee better stability in the Middle East,” it added.
Earlier in the day, Britain, France and Germany in a meeting in Brussels called on Trump to uphold the deal.
The foreign ministers of the three countries and the EU’s top diplomat said there was no alternative to it and that sanctions should remain lifted.
“We agree on this approach, we want to protect (the deal) against every possible decision that might undermine it,” Germany’s Sigmar Gabriel said alongside his French and British counterparts and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after meeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
“It is absolutely necessary to have this to prevent the development of nuclear weapons at a time when other parts of the world are discussing how to get them,” Gabriel said, later specifically mentioning North Korea in his remarks.
The meeting in Brussels was choreographed to send a message to Washington before Trump is due to decide whether to re-impose oil sanctions lifted under the deal.
The US Congress requires the president to periodically certify Iran’s compliance and issue a waiver to allow U.S sanctions to remain suspended. The next deadline is on Friday.