Paris: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has warned that a military confrontation with Iran could become "almost inevitable" if diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal fail. This comes after a high-level meeting chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The warning was issued on April 2, 2025, following the meeting in France regarding Iran’s nuclear program, which is under intense scrutiny. The European powers, including France, are working towards reaching a new agreement with Iran on its uranium enrichment program before the October 2025 deadline when UN sanctions tied to the 2015 deal are set to expire.
The situation has developed from the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 when the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under then-President Donald Trump. Since then, Iran has exceeded the limits set on uranium enrichment, pushing the situation towards a possible military confrontation unless a diplomatic resolution can be reached in the coming months.
The statement from Jean-Noel Barrot was made during a meeting that was Widely covered by global news agencies. The background information is based on previous discussions and U.S. actions, including Trump’s maximum pressure campaign and Iran’s nuclear activity since the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA.
The European powers, including France, have been pushing Iran to return to the negotiating table, but progress has been slow. The deadline for a potential agreement is fast approaching, and any failure to secure a new deal could lead to military intervention. Former President Trump’s remarks about bombing Iran and imposing additional tariffs have only escalated tensions, with Iran’s leadership vowing to retaliate to any foreign attack.
The story is rooted in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2018 and the ongoing tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities. The risk of Iran potentially developing nuclear weapons is a major concern for Western powers, leading to escalating diplomatic pressure.
France, a key player in the European powers, has made it clear that they prioritize preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and are seeking a "verifiable and durable" agreement to limit Iran's nuclear activities. The failure to reach such an agreement could lead to military conflict, a scenario both sides are keen to avoid, but which remains increasingly likely as the deadline looms.
