French FM: ‘Work to do’ on final Iran nuclear accord

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Important questions have not been settled and “there remains work to do” before a final deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Sunday.

“What has been concluded is positive,” Fabius said in Saudi Arabia, of the framework agreement reached early this month between Tehran and six major powers including France.

It marked a major breakthrough in a 12-year standoff between Iran and the West, which fears Tehran wants to build an atomic bomb. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

In exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear capabilities the accord would lift international sanctions. A final deal is to be reached by June 30.

There must be “no possible military dimension” and there remains also the question of sanctions — their lifting, or re-establishment if Iran violates its commitments, Fabius said at a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

“These two questions are not settled and there remains work to do,” Fabius said.

“France hopes for a solid and verifiable agreement.”

Saudi Arabia fears that if too much of Iran’s nuclear program is left intact Tehran will still have the ability to obtain an atomic bomb, and there are concerns that Riyadh could seek its own nuclear capability.

“We agree in saying that a final pact must be clear so that nothing is hidden and that the Gulf remains free of all weapons of mass destruction,” Saud said.