"We urge Iran not to leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty" - Minister - France in the UK

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Paris, 28 June 2025

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Q. – It’s only a few days after America’s targeted strikes on Iranian territory. Donald Trump says Iran’s nuclear programme has been totally destroyed. The IAEA is a little more doubtful. What’s the French position? Do you have a clear opinion about the situation this evening?

THE MINISTER – The United States and France believe that resolving the problem of Iran’s nuclear programme in the long term will come through negotiation and an agreement, like the one we secured 10 years ago, which will make it possible to restrict nuclear activities, ballistic activities relating to missile production and also Iran’s activities to destabilize the region. In the negotiation that’s getting under way, France is ready to provide its expertise, its experience and its consistent approach to the issue, which it has been following very carefully, from the Quai d’Orsay, for 10 years.

Q. – And get intelligence about the damage caused on Iranian territory?

THE MINISTER – Well, on that point, it’s essential and even vital for Iran to allow the inspectors from the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to continue their work. A decision was taken by the political authorities yesterday to suspend cooperation with the Agency. It’s crucial for cooperation to be resumed, because it’s the only way we can engage in discussions in good faith.

Q. – The Americans are saying they’re ready to take over from the IAEA. Are you in favour?

THE MINISTER – I think it’s essential nevertheless for the IAEA to be involved, because it’s highly knowledgeable about Iran’s nuclear programme, which it has been following for very many years. And the IAEA is designated as a verification body in the framework of a treaty which is broader than the one we secured with Iran 10 years ago, the so-called Non-Proliferation Treaty – the treaty that was signed at the end of the 1960s, that prevented the world from engaging in a nuclear arms race, that provides for five nuclear-weapon nations – including France – and that bans other nations from having access to these weapons, but in return they benefit from the expertise of the five nuclear-weapon countries in terms of access to civilian nuclear power. The IAEA is, if you like, the watchdog, the guardian of the treaty. So it’s essential for Iran to be able to maintain its cooperation with the Agency.

Q. – Emmanuel Macron has said he fears Iran will withdraw from the NPT, the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Is this a genuine fear of the Quai d’Orsay too?

THE MINISTER – Yes. We urge Iran not to leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which, I repeat, is one of the pillars of what’s called collective security, the security of the world. Weakening the Non-Proliferation Treaty would lead to many other countries in the world considering the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons for themselves. And we’d then enter a much more unstable, much more uncertain, much more dangerous era. This is why we believe Iran must remain in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, that it must engage with us in a very frank, in-depth discussion about the strict, long-term supervision of its nuclear and ballistic activities, as I was saying, in return for a lifting of the sanctions applied to its economy today.

Q. – With a few days of hindsight, would you describe the threat to Israel posed by Iran, by its nuclear programme, as existential?

THE MINISTER – As we’ve always said, Iran can’t acquire nuclear weapons. It’s a general principle of compliance with the treaty, which I’ve just mentioned. But it’s also linked to our unfailing commitment to Israel’s security, to our desire to see the region progress towards peace and stability. It’s also linked to our own security interests. The strikes carried out over the 12 days of conflict most likely destroyed, most likely set back the nuclear programme…

Q. – So they were necessary.

THE MINISTER – …, but they most likely haven’t prevented Iran from rebuilding a nuclear capability tomorrow which, again, would pose a danger to Israel, the region and ourselves. This is why it’s essential for us to be able, as we did 10 years ago, to find the way to a very demanding negotiation with Iran, which will allow us to avert the danger.

Q. – But were these strikes necessary? The Israelis would tell you: “It’s allowed us a period of respite”, i.e. to gain time on Iran’s nuclear programme. What would you reply?

THE MINISTER – The President has provided our reply, namely that these strikes weren’t in line with international law and that carrying out strikes, as was done over the past few days, always raises significant risks of regional conflagration. At which point I want to spare a thought for the civilian victims – civilian victims in Israel and Iran – of this military escalation, which was fortunately halted 12 days after it was started. But what we say – and we regularly talk about this to our Israeli interlocutors, who know France is the most demanding interlocutor when it comes to the Iranian nuclear programme, they have full trust in us – we say to them that it’s through very strict regulation that we’ll manage to resolve this problem in the long term.

Q. – Donald Trump said facing the camera: “We don’t need the Europeans in these negotiations.” Is he right?

THE MINISTER – In these negotiations, the Europeans have an extremely powerful lever. Let me explain. If Iran – which hasn’t complied with the commitments it made 10 years ago, when we reached that agreement with it – refuses to negotiate in good faith a strict and long-term regulation of its nuclear programme, then France, along with its European partners, can, quite simply and through a simple letter in the post, reimpose on Iran the global embargo on arms, nuclear equipment, banks and insurance companies that was lifted 10 years ago. We have that power. That’s why, one way or another, we’ll be playing a central role in these negotiations, as we’ve also demonstrated, because 10 years ago I myself was in Geneva at the French President’s request, with my German and British counterparts, to begin those negotiations face to face with the Iranian Foreign Minister.

Q. – You said you were in Geneva, at a time when Donald Trump had already prepared his intervention on the Iranian nuclear sites. Do you get the impression of having been duped, in a way?

THE MINISTER – Not at all, because experience shows me that France is often the first to pave the way for peace negotiations. That’s what we saw last year in Lebanon, where France was the first to put a ceasefire plan on the table, in April, which wasn’t initially adopted by the parties. We had to wait for the military escalation, and in November last year the United States and France guaranteed the ceasefire agreement that prevented Lebanon collapsing. Likewise, the meeting held in Geneva 10 days ago is the first step towards what will, I’m certain, be a negotiated settlement of this crisis, guaranteeing Israel’s security, the region’s security and our own security interests.

Q. – Why were the retaliatory measures you talked about just now – the “snapback” mechanism – not adopted before?

THE MINISTER – Because, a year ago now, we embarked on talks with Iran. Why? Because this mechanism for reimposing the global embargo, which was lifted 10 years ago, expires on 18 October. So last year, in October and even before, we made contact with Iran to detail what we expected of Iran to prevent us reimposing the embargo. A few months later, the United States chose to embark on direct or virtually direct talks with Iran; that’s what has happened in recent months. At that point, rather than increasing the channels of dialogue, I wanted us to be able to give not only Iran but also the United States the parameters of what we consider to be a balanced agreement protecting Israel’s security and our own. Only after the strikes began did my European colleagues and I want to engage again in direct talks, even though it’s obviously essential for the United States to take up this issue. The United States but also, in a way, the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the five nuclear-weapon countries, which 10 years ago agreed to restrict the Iranian nuclear programme and which, one way or another, are going to have to agree again to achieve the same result.

Q. – As you say yourself, there’s an expiry date, 18 October 2025. What do you do if it expires?

THE MINISTER – We mustn’t wait for it to expire. That’s why the coming days and weeks are so critical, because they must lead us to secure a negotiated, long-term, strict regulation of Iran’s, the Iranian regime’s activities, which pose major difficulties and dangers for Israel, the region and ourselves. We’re ready for that, because we’ve been working on this issue for 10 years, with the Quai d’Orsay teams among others, because it’s an issue President Macron is perfectly familiar with, and because we’ve known for the past year that this expiry date is approaching. Iran, Israel, the United States and all those involved are perfectly aware of our demands. We’d like dialogue to begin between Iran and the United States. We’d like it to take into account our demands, which will really shape our decision to reimpose or not reimpose the global embargo that was lifted 10 years ago.

Q. – When was your last call with your Iranian counterpart?

THE MINISTER – A little earlier this week. We exchanged a number of messages only today. He’s an interlocutor France knows well, because he was already there 10 years ago during negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme. (…)./.

Paris, 24 June 2025

France welcomes President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

This announcement must lead to a complete end to hostilities, which France calls on all the parties to respect. It is in everyone’s interest to avoid a new cycle of violence, whose consequences would be disastrous for the whole region.

France repeats that only a diplomatic solution can provide a lasting answer to the security challenges posed by Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon. In this regard, France urges Iran to engage without delay in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all the concerns linked to its nuclear and ballistic programmes and its destabilizing activities. In coordination with its partners, France is fully mobilized to contribute to this aim./.

Paris, 23 June 2025

France condemns the strikes conducted by Iran on US forces based in Qatar. Through them, Iran is aggravating the tensions in the Middle East, at the risk of unleashing an escalation whose consequences would be disastrous for the whole region.

France expresses its full solidarity with Qatar. It reaffirms its total commitment to the security and sovereignty of Qatar and all its regional partners.

In this context of strong tensions, our priority remains the safety of our nationals and our diplomatic and military sites in the region. Our systems are on alert, and all our capabilities are mobilized to this end.

France calls on all those involved to show restraint and work towards de-escalation. It urges Iran to engage without delay in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all the concerns linked to its nuclear and ballistic programmes and its destabilizing activities. In coordination with its partners, France is fully mobilized to contribute to this aim./.

Paris, 22 June 2025

France has taken note with concern of the strikes carried out last night by the United States of America against three sites in Iran’s nuclear programme.

France was neither involved in these strikes nor in their planning.

We urge the parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict.

In this context, our priority is to ensure the safety of our agents and nationals, as well as that of our interests and partners in the region.

France has repeatedly expressed its firm opposition to Iran gaining access to nuclear weapons.

France is convinced that a lasting solution to this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Treaty of Non-Proliferation. We remain ready to contribute to this in conjunction with our partners.

France has taken due note of the statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which confirms at this stage that no high level of radiation has been detected./.

22 June 2025

We have discussed the latest developments in the Middle East earlier today.

We reiterate our commitment to peace and stability for all countries in the region. We affirm our support for the security of Israel.

We have consistently been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and can no longer pose a threat to regional security.

Earlier today, the United States has conducted targeted military strikes against nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Our aim continues to be to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear programme. We stand ready to contribute to that goal in coordination with all parties.

We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilize the region.

We will continue our joint diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions and ensure the conflict does not intensify and spread further./.

Paris, 18 June 2025

Today, Wednesday 18 June 2025, President Macron convened a meeting of the Defence and National Security Council about the situation in Iran.

He signalled his concern about the ongoing escalation, with Israeli strikes increasingly aiming at targets with no links to the Iranian nuclear and ballistic programme, and a growing number of civilian victims in Iran and Israel.

It is an urgent necessity to end these military operations, which entail serious threats to regional security.

The President emphasized that a permanent solution to the nuclear and ballistic programme can be achieved only through negotiation. He also reiterated France’s desire to embark on a dialogue with Iran without concessions on its regional destabilization activities.

In this regard, he tasked the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs with taking an initiative in the next few days, with close European partners, to propose a stringent negotiated settlement capable of ending the conflict.

Regarding the safety of our nationals in Iran and Israel, President Macron asked the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to take the necessary measures to facilitate the departure from those two countries of those who so wish. These operations will be organized by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre. It recalls that all travel to those two countries is very strongly discouraged./.

Paris, 4 June 2025

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, together with the High Representative of the European Union, had a phone conversation with their Iranian counterpart on Monday, 16 June 2025, regarding the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

E3 Ministers and the High Representative of the European Union shared their concerns with regards to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and expressed their view that all sides must show restraint, refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and return to diplomacy. They reiterated the E3 and the European Union’s commitment to regional security. They reaffirmed Israel’s right to protect its security and people, in adherence with international law.

E3 Ministers and the High Representative of the European Union reiterated their longstanding concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme which largely exceeds any credible civilian purpose, and Iran’s ongoing non-compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations. They called on Iran to take decisive steps to return to negotiations and pave the way for a diplomatic solution. They further warned against an Iranian withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

E3 Ministers and the High Representative of the European Union underscored their call to de-escalate and their commitment to contribute and to reach a negotiated solution to Iran’s nuclear programme./.

Paris, 13 June 2025

France is aware of the strikes by Israel on the Islamic Republic of Iran and its nuclear programme last night.

France expresses its deep concern in light of the ongoing escalation. It urges the parties to refrain from any action that could destabilize the wider region.

France is monitoring the situation on the ground. Our top concern is the safety of our personnel and nationals in the region.

France calls on the parties to use all diplomatic means to de-escalate the situation. France stands ready to contribute to this goal, in close coordination with all its partners.

France underlines that it has often reiterated its concerns about the acceleration of the Iranian nuclear programme, which is a serious threat to the security of the national territory and is a violation of Iran’s international obligations. It did so again this week, voting for a resolution during the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following the publication of a report by the Director General.

France regularly expresses its support for ongoing efforts to seek a diplomatic solution. The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, spoke this morning with his Israeli and Saudi counterparts to recall this.

France also underlines its commitment to regional stability and Israel’s security./.

Published on 01/07/2025