French President Emmanuel Macron said international sanctions against Iran would likely be reinstated by the end of the month, in an interview excerpt broadcast on Israeli television on Thursday.
Asked by a Channel 12 journalist whether sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear programme would return “at the end of this month,” Macron replied: “Yes, I think so, because the latest news we had from the Iranians are not serious.”
Britain, France and Germany—signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran—last month triggered the mechanism to “snap back” United Nations sanctions.
“France has always been a very demanding, clear and consistent player on the Iranian issue,” Macron told the Israeli channel from Paris.
He added, addressing Israelis directly: “And I think this is very important for your country and your people.”
Macron, whose plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN on Monday has drawn criticism in Israel, warned of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, ballistic capacity, and role in regional destabilisation.
“We never underestimated the risk of the nuclear bomb in Iran, nor their ballistic capabilities and regional destabilisation, as they remain unclear and fail to provide any serious commitment,” he said.
“This is a European position, and we have worked with our British and German colleagues. We will put the snapbacks,” he confirmed, referring to the UN mechanism for reinstating sanctions.