Attack on northern Iraq could ‘compromise’ return to nuclear talks
AA / Paris / Shweta Desai
France warned Iran on Sunday that its “irresponsible and dangerous” missile strike against the city of Erbil in northern Iraq could hamper prospects for a return to nuclear talks.
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the attack, claimed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), “threatens the stability of Iraq and the region”.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had earlier claimed responsibility for the strike, which was introduced into Kurdish administration territory in northern Iraq on Saturday, saying Israeli facilities in the area were targeted. missiles.
“Such actions jeopardize efforts to promote the return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” the statement from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
French diplomacy recalled the “imperious urgency” to bring the negotiations relating to the nuclear agreement to a successful conclusion and stressed that Tehran must put an end to its “irresponsible and dangerous behavior”.
Under the presidency of the European Union, representatives of Iran, China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and negotiating Germany, since December, in the Austrian capital, to ensure the full compliance with the agreement and a possible return of the United States to the JCPOA.
The Iran nuclear deal – referred to as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – was signed in 2015 by Iran, the United States, China, Russia, France, the Kingdom United, Germany and European Union.
As part of this agreement, Tehran pledged to limit its nuclear activity to civilian purposes and, in return, the world powers agreed to drop their economic sanctions against Iran.
The United States, under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to no longer comply with the provisions of the agreement. .
**Translated from English by Mourad Belhaj
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