Paris (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron's proposals to unblock the crisis over the Iranian nuclear deal are "in the right direction," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Friday in an interview with AFP.

The proposals "are going in the right direction, but it is clear that there is still some way," said the minister in this interview, after meeting the French president at midday.

"We had a good discussion today," said the minister, during a meeting at the ambassador's residence. "We talked about possibilities, and now he (Emmanuel Macron, ed) will discuss this with his European partners and other partners to see where we can go," he added.

The meeting between Zarif and the French president comes on the eve of the G7 summit in Biarritz, in the south-west of France, where the French president plans to make proposals, in the presence of US President Donald Trump, who denounced the Iranian Nuclear Agreement of 2015 (JCPOA) and imposed sanctions on Tehran.

Targeted himself by American sanctions, the Iranian minister was the craftsman for Tehran of the agreement - and it is as such the bane of ultraconservatives Iranian.

Smiling in his gray crossed suit on a white shirt with an officer collar, Mr. Zarif unfolds in perfect English the elements of language of Tehran, which he dispenses in the capitals of the whole world.

"For us the important thing is that we can continue to trade with the European Union," he said, while the US economic sanctions are aimed at the financial asphyxiation of Tehran by dissuading Europeans from doing business with the European Union. Iran.

"We are looking for a way for Europe to meet its commitments" vis-à-vis Iran, "so we can go back on our decisions" on nuclear, he says.

Iran is trying to push Europeans, who want to preserve the agreement, to take steps to override US sanctions. But European companies are not willing to risk lawsuits and fines from US authorities.

- Oil -

After the US decision, Tehran has announced that it will be relieved of its obligations under this agreement, the purpose of which is to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

This escalation, combined with tensions in the Arab-Persian Gulf region, has resulted in an explosive situation in this highly volatile and highly militarized region, causing some observers to fear the outbreak of war.

"We are not looking for military confrontation (...) but we will definitely defend ourselves," Zarif warns.

Asked about the destination of the Iranian tanker Grace 1, which had been seized by the authorities of Gibraltar and released despite a warrant of seizure of US authorities, he said: "We will not announce its final destination because the United States would benefit from continue to sabotage our economic activities ".

The ship left Gibraltar on August 18 and was on Friday off Sicily. "The United States is harassing our ship in international waters and hinders the freedom of navigation," the Iranian diplomat said.

Asked about requests, including French, to open international negotiations on the ballistic activities of Tehran and its regional influence, Mr. Zarif kicked in touch, saying he was ready to discuss "ways to improve the implementation of JCPOA work ".

"On the missiles and the regional subjects, we did not include them in the JCPOA, not because Iran was not willing to do it, but mainly because the West is not ready to reduce its sales weapons in the region or stop supporting those who attack and carry out terrorist activities in the region, "he said, while two of Tehran's main regional rivals, Saudi Arabia and Israel, are strong allies in the region. near Washington.

"So, let's start with the JCPOA," he insists.

After Europe these days, the minister will fly to Beijing where he will be received from Sunday to Tuesday. China, a signatory of the JCPOA, is an important economic partner for Tehran, buying in particular oil.

© 2019 AFP