This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
On July 10, 2019, Emmanuel Bonne, the French envoy, arrived in Tehran for a crucial meeting with Iranian officials. Bonne's mission was to address the escalating tensions between Iran and the US, and to salvage the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the nuclear deal.
According to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Bonne's visit aimed to 'open the discussion space to avoid an uncontrolled escalation, or even an accident.' The JCPOA, signed in 2015, promised Iran sanctions relief, economic benefits, and an end to international isolation in return for stringent curbs on its nuclear program.
However, Iran has been at odds with the US since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in May 2018. The US reimposed stinging sanctions on Tehran, hitting the banking and oil sectors hard, causing the Iranian economy to plummet.
Iran has since breached two aspects of the agreement, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The country has surpassed 4.5 percent uranium enrichment, above the 3.67 percent limit under the agreement, and has also exceeded the purification cap.
Despite the heightened tensions, French President Emmanuel Macron is pursuing a diplomatic track. Macron held an hour-long conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday, exploring the conditions for a resumption of dialogue between all parties.
Iran has welcomed French diplomacy, considering it part of their duty to keep the agreement alive. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi stated, 'We welcome their activities because the French are a part of the JCPOA and we consider their efforts as part of their duty.'
