Intense diplomatic activity to try to save the Iran nuclear deal
Jean-Yves Le Drian will receive this Thursday, February 18 in Paris the German Heiko Maas and the British Dominic Raab, who will be joined by videoconference by the American Secretary of State, for a meeting mainly devoted to Iran © CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / EPA / Newscom / MaxPPP
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This Thursday, February 18, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will receive his British and German counterparts.
The US Secretary of State will also participate in the meeting via video conference.
On Friday, the heads of state of these countries will discuss Iran at the Munich conference on security, it will be held at a distance.
The aim is to try to save the nuclear deal.
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Since
Donald Trump
pulled the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, tensions have grown steadily.
The Americans have imposed numerous sanctions on Iran and
Tehran has resumed
its uranium enrichment activities.
The Europeans who signed the nuclear deal have been trying to save it ever since.
Hope came from the election of Joe Biden after the “maximum pressure” policy exercised by his predecessor.
It remains to define the modalities.
The Biden administration has said it is ready to return to the agreement if Tehran respects the terms and again accepts the framework of its nuclear program.
But the
Iranian regime
calls first for a lifting of sanctions before any discussion and rejects calls to expand the terms of the agreement.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on Wednesday February 17 that he wanted “
actions, not words and promises
”.
In a telephone interview Wednesday with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her "
concern
" about Tehran's multiple deviations from the international nuclear agreement.
She also said that "
the time had come to give positive signals which would strengthen confidence and increase the chances of a diplomatic solution
" to preserve this agreement.
►
To read also: Iran: after the inauguration of Biden, the hope of a lifting of the sanctions imposed by Trump
New ultimatum
In accordance with a law passed by its Conservative-controlled Parliament, Tehran will cease on February 21 to submit to the very strict regime of international inspections to ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.
A deadline that fuels concerns: the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is expected Saturday in Tehran to "
find a mutually acceptable solution so that the IAEA continues its verification activities in this country,
”according to the Vienna-based organization, which is concerned about the“
serious impact
”of the limitations planned by Iran.
The door remains open.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said he was ready to receive him.
"
If he wants to negotiate, he can negotiate,
" he said Wednesday, assuring that "
it is not a question of leaving our nuclear activity without inspection
".
The Iranian subject should not fail to be discussed also on Friday at the annual Munich Security Conference, in which President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are to participate by video conference.
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Iran
Diplomacy
Nuclear
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