Politics

Iran Rejects Macron's Allegations of Regional Security Threat

Wednesday 08 January 2025 - 09:02

Iran has firmly rejected recent statements by French President Emmanuel Macron, labeling his remarks about Tehran's role as a major regional security challenge as unfounded and misleading. On Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, denounced Macron’s comments as "baseless, contradictory, and speculative." He urged France to adopt a more constructive approach toward promoting peace and stability in the region.

Macron, in a speech earlier this week, characterized Iran as the primary strategic and security concern for France, Europe, and the broader Middle East. He also indicated that Iran’s actions would be a central topic of discussions with the incoming U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump.

Among the issues raised by Macron was the acceleration of Iran’s nuclear program. He warned that these developments were pushing the situation dangerously close to a critical juncture, echoing Western concerns that Tehran’s activities may be aimed at developing nuclear weapons. However, Baqaei dismissed these accusations as "deceitful," reaffirming that Iran's nuclear program is entirely peaceful and operates within the framework of international law.

Tehran has consistently denied any intention to produce nuclear weapons, despite its significant uranium enrichment activities. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapons state enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, a level approaching the 90 percent required for weapons-grade material.

This escalation in Iran’s nuclear activities followed the U.S. withdrawal from a landmark nuclear agreement during Trump’s presidency. The agreement, which provided sanctions relief in exchange for limits on Tehran's nuclear ambitions, was abandoned by Washington in 2018. Although Iran initially adhered to the deal, it began scaling back its commitments after the U.S. exit.

Iran is scheduled to hold nuclear negotiations with France, Britain, and Germany on January 13 in Switzerland, aiming to address ongoing tensions and explore pathways to de-escalation.