Rouhani Tells Macron Over Phone:
Impossible to Stay in JCPOA Without Benefits
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned world powers that it was impossible for Tehran to stay in the nuclear deal if it cannot benefit from the accord after the U.S. withdrawal.
In a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Rouhani said he was satisfied with Europe’s stance, especially French efforts to salvage the 2015 deal, but that "such statements should be combined with actions and tangible measures”.
"If Iran cannot benefit from the (nuclear) deal, then it’s practically impossible to stay in the accord,” Rouhani was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying in a phone call with the French president.
Since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States in May, calling the accord flawed, European signatories - France, Britain and Germany – claim to have been working to ensure Iran retains enough economic benefits to persuade it not to pull out.
Macron’s office said he had told Rouhani in the same telephone call that France remained committed to the nuclear deal but Tehran needed to fully comply with its commitments.
"The President of the Republic recalled the will of France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China, to continue to implement the Vienna agreement in all its dimensions,” Macron’s office said.
"The president informed President Rouhani of the progress in the work being done on our side. He hoped that Iran, for its part, will fulfill its obligations without any ambiguity.”
Macron’s office confirmed a previously agreed ministerial meeting between all the remaining signatories of the deal, the European powers, China and Russia, would be held in the coming weeks in Vienna.
French diplomatic sources said the meeting was likely to take place during the week of June 25.
As regards the situation in Syria, Rouhani reiterated that Iranian military advisers, unlike the "illegitimate presence of military forces of certain countries in Syria”, are in the Arab country at the official request of the Damascus government for the fight against terrorism.
Rouhani also hailed "the good progress” made in drafting the new constitution of Syria, and welcomed continuation of consultation between Iran and France on establishing stability and peace in the Arab country.
In a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Rouhani said he was satisfied with Europe’s stance, especially French efforts to salvage the 2015 deal, but that "such statements should be combined with actions and tangible measures”.
"If Iran cannot benefit from the (nuclear) deal, then it’s practically impossible to stay in the accord,” Rouhani was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying in a phone call with the French president.
Since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States in May, calling the accord flawed, European signatories - France, Britain and Germany – claim to have been working to ensure Iran retains enough economic benefits to persuade it not to pull out.
Macron’s office said he had told Rouhani in the same telephone call that France remained committed to the nuclear deal but Tehran needed to fully comply with its commitments.
"The President of the Republic recalled the will of France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China, to continue to implement the Vienna agreement in all its dimensions,” Macron’s office said.
"The president informed President Rouhani of the progress in the work being done on our side. He hoped that Iran, for its part, will fulfill its obligations without any ambiguity.”
Macron’s office confirmed a previously agreed ministerial meeting between all the remaining signatories of the deal, the European powers, China and Russia, would be held in the coming weeks in Vienna.
French diplomatic sources said the meeting was likely to take place during the week of June 25.
As regards the situation in Syria, Rouhani reiterated that Iranian military advisers, unlike the "illegitimate presence of military forces of certain countries in Syria”, are in the Arab country at the official request of the Damascus government for the fight against terrorism.
Rouhani also hailed "the good progress” made in drafting the new constitution of Syria, and welcomed continuation of consultation between Iran and France on establishing stability and peace in the Arab country.