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Thursday, April 26, 2018, 00:02
Macron proposes new Iran deal; EU, Kremlin against
By Agencies
Thursday, April 26, 2018, 00:02 By Agencies

US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (left) in the East Room of the White House, April 24, 2018, in Washington. (EVAN VUCCI / AP)

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS/MOSCOW - Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday proposed to work with other parties to forge a new deal on Iran. However, bilateral divergence on Iran and other issues remain as his state visit to the United States drew to a close. 

Speaking in a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump, Macron said that the current Iran nuke deal, or internationally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015, was not "sufficient," but "enabled us, at least until 2025, to have some control over their nuclear activities." 

Trump said Macron's suggestion is "a pretty good idea," yet remained unsure "whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations"

"We therefore wish, from now on, to work on a new deal with Iran," said Macron. 

NEW DEAL ON IRAN 

He further explained that the new deal should cover four topics: to block any nuclear activity of Iran until 2025, to make sure that there is no Iranian nuclear activity in the long run, to put an end to Tehran's ballistic activities in the region, and to generate the conditions for a political solution to "contain" Iran in the region. 

ALSO READ: Trump, Macron seek new Iran steps as deadline looms

However, he denied any change in his stance on the JCPOA, calling the JCPOA "the first pillar" of the framework of the new deal. 

Macron admitted that he still has "a disagreement" with Trump regarding the JCPOA. 

"I always said we should not tear apart the JCPOA and have nothing else. I think this would not be the good solution," he said.

"I constantly said that we needed to find the framework so that, together, and with the powers of the region, and with the Iranian leaders, manage to find a deal," he added. 

Macron denied any change in his stance on the JCPOA, calling the JCPOA "the first pillar" of the framework of the new deal

"I'm not saying that we're moving from one deal to another. I'm saying it is one aspect of the problem. I have never been as critical of the JCPOA as President Trump has, because I believe that we can usefully add to it," Macron noted. 

He added that the new agreement will involve European nations, Russia and Turkey. 

For his part, Trump said Macron's suggestion is "a pretty good idea," yet remained unsure "whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations." 

"Because this (the current Iran nuclear deal) (is) a deal with decayed foundations. It's a bad deal. It's a bad structure. It's falling down. Should have never, ever been made," he said.  

READ MORE: Macron visits Trump as Iran nuclear deal hangs in balance

In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says the current deal with Iran is working effectively to keep Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and should be preserved for the future.

Mogherini spoke after Trump again showed dissatisfaction with the international agreement during a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighting a trans-Atlantic rift on the issue.

A Kremlin spokesman said Russia supports keeping the current Iran nuclear deal in place

Russia on Wednesday questioned whether it would be possible to repeat earlier work to clinch a new Iran nuclear deal, commenting on US President Donald Trump's stance on the deal. 

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin supports keeping the current Iran nuclear deal in place. 

"We do not know what is being talked about, we support the nuclear deal as it is today. We think that there are no alternatives," said Peskov. 

Trump will decide whether to leave the JCPOA on May 12. The chance for US staying, judged by Trump's recent pejorative tone towards Tehran and the deal, has been increasingly slim. 



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