French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot Warns of Military Conflict with Iran if Nuclear Talks Fail
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has warned of a potential military conflict with Iran if nuclear talks fail to produce a new agreement. The warning comes as the United States and Iran engage in a war of words, with US President Donald Trump threatening to bomb the country if it does not make concessions on its nuclear program.
Speaking to French lawmakers on Wednesday, Barrot said that without a new agreement, a military confrontation “appears almost inevitable” and warned that such a scenario could further destabilize the Middle East.
The Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 by Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany and the European Union. The deal restricted Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, in 2017, Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the agreement, calling it the “worst deal ever” and instead opted for a campaign of “maximum pressure” through sanctions.
The EU has been trying to provide Iran with alternatives to evade the US sanctions and preserve the JCPOA, but the talks have since stalled. The impasse has emboldened Iran in its hardline foreign policy and in response to the non-compliance of the West, Iran has refused to continue to honor its obligations under the agreement unilaterally.
Since the start of his second term in January, Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a new nuclear deal. In a recent interview, he said, “If they don’t make a deal, it will be a big one, a very big one and it will be a bomb and it will be a big one, like you’ve never seen before.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to Trump on Monday, warning that the US and Israel would receive a strong counterattack if they attack Iran.
In the midst of the escalating tensions, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it has sent additional troops to the Middle East, with four B-2 bombers being relocated to a base on the Diego Garcia island to position themselves for potential strikes against Iran, according to Reuters.