By staff and agency

It is a pity U.S. not honoring JCPOA commitments, French FM says

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said that it is a pity that the U.S. is not honoring its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Foreign Minister Zarif says Israel is looking for war.

Zarif: Iran won’t forsake own security for Le Drian’s sake

TEHRAN – In a panel discussion on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he cannot deprive his country of its defense capabilities just for the sake of his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

BY Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh

SPV: A European mechanism to struggle U.S., gain economic autonomy

In their joint statement on that last day of January, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt introduced the SPV (a special purpose vehicle) also called INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges), the financial mechanism which enables Iran to keep doing business with the rest of the world despite the draconian financial sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

Iran seeks speedy implementation of commitments as EU sets up payment channel with Iran

TEHRAN – The Foreign Ministry issued a statement of Thursday saying Tehran welcomes the European Union’s payments mechanisms to skirt the U.S. sanctions against Iran, yet it sought an immediate implementation of the payment channel.

Iran denies missile talks with France

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi has denied any talks with France over Tehran’s missile program, calling claim of missile talks an “absolute lie”.

Tehran reiterates missiles are ‘non-negotiable’

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi has reiterated Iran’s firm stance on its missile program, saying the country’s missiles are “non-negotiable”.

Tehran hits back at French sanctions threats

TEHRAN – Iran has strongly criticized France for threatening Tehran with new sanctions over its missile program, vowing to reconsider its relations with European countries if such sanctions are imposed.

By staff and agency

EU says SPV to be launched ‘very soon’

The European Commission said it’s seeking to launch “very soon” a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to help European companies bypass U.S. sanctions on Iran.

European powers back Iran deal ahead of UN summit

TEHRAN – A number of European leaders have expressed support for the 2015 nuclear deal ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mogherini, Le Drian meet Zarif in New York

TEHRAN – EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian separately met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York on Monday, IRNA reported.

By Hamid Bayati

Did Trump deceive Macron again?

Speaking at a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Vienna, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian's remarks on the necessity of holding missile and regional negotiations with Iran surprised many of his addressees!

By staff and agency

Nuclear deal is ‘not dead’, says French FM

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said that the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is “not dead”.

Talks with Europeans on nuclear deal to continue, Iran says

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Sunday that Iran will continue talks with the Europeans on preserving the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Iran to France: Missile program is non-negotiable

TEHRAN – The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday reiterating Tehran’s long held policy that Iran’s missile program is “domestic”, “legitimate”, “defensive” and “non-negotiable”.

By Mohammad Ghaderi - Twitter: @ghaderi62 - Email: m.ghaderi62@gmail.com

Why are Iranians unhappy with the Elysee Palace?

French politicians will continue to play their double standard approach toward the nuclear deal with Iran. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian recently announced that France (along with other European countries) does not intend to offer a package in the near future to preserve the nuclear deal with Iran! On the other hand, French officials have been silent about how their economic cooperation with Iran has been in place in recent days.

Louvre show wraps up months of boom in Tehran museum visits

TEHRAN - A momentous Louvre show came to an end at the National Museum of Iran on Monday.

By Mohammad Ghaderi

France dangerous game over the Nuclear Deal

TEHRAN - On the eve of the negotiations between Iran and the members of the P4+1 in Vienna on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the French Foreign Minister determined the fate of "European JCPOA" once and for all! In an interview with RTL radio on the "Europe's package of proposals to Iran" for saving the nuclear deal, Jean Yves Le Drian stated:

Tehran says missile program solely defensive

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi has criticized French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s anti-Iran remarks, saying “short-sighted political interests” should not lead the French government to distort Iran’s constructive policies in the region.

Europe making progress on anti-U.S. sanction measures over Iran: France

France’s foreign minister said on Thursday that the European Union has made some progress on measures to protect the bloc’s companies from U.S. sanctions on Iran but these were still insufficient.

Iran sanctions will further endanger Mideast: French FM

TEHRAN – France has criticized the U.S. for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and resorting, instead, to a policy of pressure and sanctions against the country, warning that such approach could further destabilize the restive Middle East region.

France says reimposing sanctions on Iran ‘unacceptable’

TEHRAN – France has denounced as “unacceptable” the U.S. move to re-impose sanctions on companies trading with Iran, BBC reported.

FM Zarif highlights importance of boosting military capability

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that it is very important to boost the country’s military power.

Nuclear deal ‘must not be touched’: France’s Le Drian

TEHRAN – French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has ruled out any changes to the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, saying that the agreement “must not be touched”.

The Louvre in Tehran and triumph of cultural diplomacy

TEHRAN – An unprecedented Louvre exhibit in Tehran can be deemed as a triumph of cultural diplomacy between Iran and the West though arrays of political tensions are still in place.

MPs reprove Zarif over Le Drian visit

TEHRAN – Two lawmakers on Tuesday issued a warning to Foreign Minister Mohamamd Javad Zarif over inviting his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian to Tehran. 

France’s stance ‘irrational’, ‘unacceptable’: former Iranian envoy

TEHRAN – A former Iranian ambassador to Paris has said that France’s stance against Iran is “Irrational” and “unacceptable”.

Parliament will never allow missile talks: MP

TEHRAN – The parliament would never allow anyone to hold talks about the country’s missile power, the spokesman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Majlis has said, Tasnim reported on Tuesday.

Tehran-Paris ties growing since nuclear deal: diplomat

TEHRAN - Abolghassem Delfi, Iran’s ambassador to France, has said that Tehran and Paris ties have been on a positive trend since the conclusion of the 2015 nuclear deal.

JCPOA fall to cause common regret, Iran’s president warns

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned against the consequences of a possible breakdown of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying all parties to the deal would regret such event.

Students protest French FM’s remarks

A number of students gathered in front of the Foreign Ministry in downtown Tehran on Monday to voice their protest against France over anti-Iran comments by its Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who held talks with a number of Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday. Upon his visit, Le Drian said Iran needs to address Europe’s demands over its ballistic missile program or risk new sanctions.