France tries to calm Trump's Iran nuclear frenzy

French President Emmanuel Macron insisted the importance of the Iranian nuclear deal to Trump in a phone call, saying it is important the deal is respected by everyone.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

12 January, 2018

Macron is a critic of Trump despite trying to sustain good relations with him [AP]

French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to play world peacemaker, using a phone call with US President Donald Trump to insist on the importance of the Iranian nuclear deal and efforts to calm tensions with North Korea.

Macron's office said on Thursday that Macron stressed to Trump that it's essential that the Iran deal is "respected by all signatories."

The US, France and other powers struck the deal in 2015 to curb Iran's nuclear activities.

The French leader also called for solidarity among UN Security Council members, including the US and France, to "progress toward the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula."

Macron has sought to maintain a close alliance with the US, but hasn't been afraid to publicly oppose Trump over his scepticism of the Iran deal or global warming.

Iran warned the world on Monday to prepare for the possible withdrawal of the United States from the landmark nuclear deal agreed in 2015.

But there have been speculations by US officials that Trump will extend sanctions relief given to Iran as part of the 2015 nuclear accord.

Officials who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity said that Trump decided to extend the sanctions relief for 120 days after meeting with his security advisors.

The decision was made ahead of a deadline on Friday for the extension of the waiver. Trump is expected to announce the decision mid-morning on Friday, according to reports.

Trump has been railing against the Iran deal since before he was elected in November last year, calling it "one of the worst" in US history, and warned America could leave it "at any time".