France rejects US criticism of its policy towards Tehran

PARIS, Aug 10, (Agencies): French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in a statement Friday rejected criticism from US President Donald Trump concerning France’s policy towards Iran.

Last night, Trump had accused French President Emmanuel Macron of sending “mixed signals” to Iran and he decried France’s policy in the ongoing crisis in the Gulf.

“On Iran, France speaks with total sovereignty. France commits strongly to peace and security in the region, and commits to enabling de-escalation,” Le Drian said in a press statement Friday.

The Foreign Minister bluntly told the US that Paris does not need approval from Washington for its policies and its diplomatic initiatives aiming to end the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme in light of US sanctions.

“France requires no authorization to do so,” Le Drian added.

He also vowed that France will continue to work to end the crisis through diplomatic channels, amid heightening tensions between the US and Iran.

“France is true to the Vienna Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), which blocks nuclear proliferation.

It is true to its signature, as are the other signatories of the JCPoA, apart from the United States, and firmly asks Iran to resume compliance with its obligations,” France’s chief diplomat affirmed.

The US President withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and has since piled on what he calls “maximum pressure” through punitive sanctions on Iran.

Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany have chosen to remain in the 2015 agreement that sought to halt Iranian nuclear activities and avoid the development of a nuclear bomb in exchange for economic benefits.

Le Drian urged “political initiatives” to re-establish dialogue with Tehran and he stressed “that is what President Macron is doing”, all the while continuing to brief the US Administration on political efforts in this area.

“All efforts must be brought together to avoid this conflictual situation becoming a dangerous confrontation,” the French Foreign Minister urged.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter on Friday that any military presence in the Gulf from outside the region would be a “source of insecurity” for Iran, and Tehran would act to safeguard its security.

Washington is lobbying international partners to join a maritime security coalition at a time of heightened tensions with Iran. Tehran earlier on Friday warned against any presence of its arch-foe Israel in the planned coalition.

“(The) Arabian Gulf is a vital lifeline and thus nat’l security priority for Iran, which has long ensured maritime security,” Zarif said in his tweet.

“Mindful of this reality, any extraregional presence is by definition (a) source of insecurity ... Iran won’t hesitate to safeguard its security,” Zarif said.

Britain said on Monday it was joining the United States in the maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect vessels after Iran seized a Britishflagged tanker.

Traffic in the Strait, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes, has become the focus of a standoff between Iran and the United States after President Donald Trump quit a 2015 nuclear pact and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.