French President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Paris, August 23, 2019
Iran has drawn a line over French President Emmanuel Macron’s mediation to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal, saying it will not discuss the Iranian missile program.
France has led a months-long effort to complement the nuclear agreement, from which the Trump Administration withdrew in May 2018, with an accord on Iran’s missile research and development. But the Islamic Republic has steadfastly refused, even giving up a vital link with Europe to prop up the troubled Iranian economy.
On Monday, as the French President was leading the G7 summit in southern France — and after he arranged a surprise appearance by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, unsettling the Americans — an “informed source” told Iranian State outlet Press TV that Macron’s proposals on both missiles and talks on regional issues had been rejected.
See also TrumpWatch, Day 948: Out-Maneuvered at G7 Summit, Trump Flounders Over His China Trade War
Iran Daily, August 24: Zarif — “Constructive” Talks with France’s Macron
In February, the European Union launched a mechanism, INSTEX, to bypass US sanctions with non-dollar trade in Iranian oil and other commodities and goods. But Tehran’s leadership refused the arrangement because of “humiliating conditions”: the EU’s concern over missiles, Iran’s activities in the Middle East, and alleged involvement in bomb and assassination plots in Europe.
Pursuing his mediation since early July, Macron offered a $15 billion line of credit, amid a fall in Iran’s official oil exports of between 85% and 95% since April 2018. The Iranian “informed source” said Tehran will consider reversing its suspension of commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal if the line is established — but went no further over new discussions on missiles and Iran’s military and political activities in the Middle East.
Since June, Iran has broken the 2015 deal’s limit on stocks of 3.67% uranium, raised enrichment to 4.5%, and said it will consider returning to the pre-2015 production of 20% uranium, which potentially can be further enriched to 90% grade for a military nuclear program.
President Hassan Rouhani maintained a polite line on Monday over Macron’s maneuvers at the G7 summit: “If I know that by taking part in a meeting with a specific person my country’s problem would be solved, I would not shy away from it, because the main issue [for me] is the country’s national interests.”
“Tehran Draws Line with France’s Macron — No Negotiations on Missiles”
Macron, the arrogant and yet boy scout will prove himself useless to Renault.
As for trump being outmaneuvered, not sure about that. Sure he may have been surprised but rest assured in time he can use this to his own benefit. Sure trump didn’t feel any love for france, and this doesn’t make it better. There is no obligation for the US in any of this.
As for zarif, he is out of all moves, rushing to france doesn’t hurt him anymore than he is already. At best, zarif is like a water buffalo without the horns circled by pack of carnivores. The only chance for zarif is if trump blinks, which, trump has no reason to blink. A stalemate doesn’t hurt the US, not even through the election, even if mullahs last that long.
Anonymous,
Interesting points here — thank you.
S.
To extend this, I think the biggest loser of this may be Macron come election time. It is not hard to see why Macron is jumping around like popcorn in the pan hoping to land himself in captain EU role. This is something that Merkel tried and didn’t go very far with business community in iri. Companies like Total, Renault, banks, etc. don’t dance to dubious tunes of politicians, when these companies know punishment from the US is certainty. Macron is not secure enough to survive that kind of backlash.