France Unwilling to Leave Iran Nuclear Deal, President Macron Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris will not leave the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Speaking at the US Congress Wednesday on the final day of a three-day state visit, Macron said the JCPOA was not addressing what he called “all concerns” but stressed that the deal could not be ditched.
"We signed it, both the United States and France."
"We should not abandon it without having something substantial and more substantial instead. That's why France will not leave the JCPOA, because we signed it," he said.
He also vowed that Iran will "never" be allowed to develop atomic weapons, Press TV reported.
"Our objective is clear. Iran shall never possess any nuclear weapons. Not now. Not in five years. Not in 10 years. Never," Macron said.
Trump has often vowed to pull the United States out of the 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and the group 5+1 of countries (the US, France, Britain, China, Russia and Germany), which was negotiated under his predecessor, Barack Obama.
Iran has repeatedly warned that any failure to respect the multinational agreement would have grave consequences, stressing that there is no alternative to the nuclear accord.
