French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that international sanctions against Iran are likely to be reinstated by the end of this month, following what he described as unserious negotiations with Tehran.
The E3 group – Britain, France, and Germany – launched a 30-day process in late August to reintroduce UN sanctions, setting clear conditions for Tehran. Iran was required to meet these demands in September to avoid the activation of the “automatic snapback mechanism” under the UN framework.
Macron stressed that the conditions included allowing UN nuclear inspectors full access to Iranian facilities, providing explanations for the country’s large stockpiles of enriched uranium, and engaging in talks with the United States.
Asked in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 whether sanctions were now inevitable, Macron replied:
“Yes. I believe they are, because the latest developments from Iran are not serious.”
Foreign ministers from the E3, the EU’s top diplomat, and Iran’s foreign minister held a phone call on Wednesday. Diplomats from both sides admitted that no significant progress had been made, though they said the door remained open for a last-minute agreement before the deadline.
Meanwhile, the 15-member UN Security Council is set to vote on Friday on a resolution that would permanently lift UN sanctions on Iran. However, diplomats noted the measure is unlikely to receive the required nine votes. Even if it did, the United States, Britain, or France are expected to veto it.
