Iran President Raisi's First Call with Macron: "US and Europe Must Uphold Nuclear Deal"

First Call with Western Leaders... "Iran's Rights Must Be Protected"
Macron Urges "Prompt Resumption of Nuclear Deal Restoration Talks"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi held his first phone call since taking office with French President Emmanuel Macron, discussing the restoration negotiations of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). Attention is focused on whether the talks, which have remained uncertain since last month, will find a breakthrough to resume the Iran nuclear deal restoration negotiations.

According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency on the 9th (local time), President Raisi had his first phone call with President Macron since taking office. This is the first time that Raisi, a hardline conservative cleric, has spoken by phone with a Western leader. During the call, President Raisi emphasized, "The United States and Europe must comply with the obligations of the Iran nuclear deal," and "Above all, Iran's rights and interests must be guaranteed in the restoration negotiations of the nuclear deal."

In response, President Macron reportedly countered, "Iran must halt all nuclear activities outside the nuclear deal and promptly resume the restoration talks." The Iran nuclear deal restoration negotiations have not yet set a date to resume since the Iranian delegation unilaterally suspended talks on the 5th of last month, following strategic changes due to the new government's diplomatic policy after the Iranian presidential election.

President Raisi rebutted, stating, "The United States has clearly violated the obligations of the nuclear deal by imposing new sanctions on Iran," and pointed out, "European parties have also failed to assist Iran in evading U.S. sanctions." He further made a strong statement, saying, "Iran will not withdraw subsequent actions related to its legal rights due to U.S. pressure and sanction policies."

Additionally, he expressed grievance over Iran being accused as the mastermind behind the attack on an Israeli-operated oil tanker near Oman last month. President Raisi said, "Following accusations from Israel, the United States, and their allies that Iran was behind the attack, Iran is seriously considering 'maintaining deterrence' in the Gulf."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.