Iran, France stress JCPOA implementation

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi

Iran and France have laid emphasis on the full implementation of a nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and six other countries, including the European state.

During a Friday meeting in Paris between French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, the two sides stressed the importance of full commitment to the provisions of the deal, which is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The JCPOA was reached between Iran on the one side, and France, China, Russia, Germany, the UK, and the US on the other.

There have been concerns among Iran’s European and other partners that an incoming US administration may breach the JCPOA or even stop implementing its commitments altogether.

US President-elect Donald Trump, a business tycoon who has no background in diplomacy and governance, had threatened on his campaign trail to “tear up” the deal or renegotiate its terms.

French President Francois Hollande said recently that he doubts Trump would scrap the agreement.

“This accord gives us all security… Could the US with Donald Trump put into question this accord? I don’t think so,” he said, addressing concerns about a potential US breach.

Iran has, however, stressed that it has no concerns about such a scenario. In a speech on Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Iran is prepared for any “possible eventuality.”

The JCPOA has been endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution, which means the deal is effectively international law.

In the Friday meeting with Takht-e Ravanchi, Ayrault, the French foreign minister, referred to a January trip to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and said the visit and the signing of bilateral documents during the trip were positive developments.

He expressed hope regarding a more expeditious implementation of the bilateral agreements, which have already taken effect.

During President Rouhani’s visit, several memoranda of understanding were signed on cooperation in various sectors, including telecommunications, environment, tourism, agriculture, higher education, and transportation.

The January presidential visit took place following the implementation earlier that month of the JCPOA.

Takht-e Ravanchi likewise assessed the current status of the bilateral ties, especially in the economic area, as satisfactory and hoped for better banking and financial relations between Iran and France.

Concerning regional developments, Takht-e Ravanchi welcomed the recent long-awaited election of a president in Lebanon, insisted that the drawn-out Syrian conflict had to be resolved only through political channels, and emphasized the need for a cessation of hostilities in Yemen and the transfer of humanitarian aid to the impoverished country.

He concluded by calling attention to the threat posed to both the region and Europe by terrorism, and insisted on the need for talks and cooperation toward confronting the scourge.