France says Iran 'can't avoid' talks on missile program, regional meddling

French FM calls on Tehran to respect nuke deal, says it must also be open to discussing its ‘nuclear commitments’ after accord expires

VIENNA — Iran “cannot avoid” talks on thorny issues like its ballistic missile program and role in Middle East conflicts, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned Thursday, as European powers work to rescue the beleaguered nuclear deal with Tehran.

France, Germany, and Britain are leading European efforts to save the landmark 2015 deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program, which was thrown into crisis in May when US President Donald Trump withdrew and reimposed sanctions.

Critics of the accord — which was also signed by Russia and China — say it is too narrowly focused on the nuclear issue and does nothing to curb Iran’s meddling in regional conflicts or its program to develop conventional ballistic missiles.

The European Union is trying to find ways to maintain oil and banking ties with Iran after the second phase of US sanctions kicks in in November, and Le Drian said it was important to find ways to keep the Islamic Republic trading.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) shakes hands with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as they meet in the capital Tehran on March 5, 2018. (AFP/Atta Kenare)

But he warned that Tehran must keep up its side of the deal, and be prepared to expand talks.

“Iran must respect the fundamentals of the JCPOA [nuclear deal] and I think that is the case,” Le Drian said as he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Vienna.

“But Iran cannot avoid discussions, negotiations on three other major subjects that worry us — the future of Iran’s nuclear commitments after 2025, the ballistic question and the fact there is a sort of ballistic proliferation on the part of Iran… and the role Iran plays to stabilize the whole region.

“We must talk about these three subjects, Iran must be aware of this and that’s the message I send to them from Vienna.”

Despite European pledges to keep providing Iran with the economic benefits it received from the nuclear deal, many major companies have already pulled out of the country for fear of US penalties.