'Iranians are not serious': Macron signals sanctions on Iran to be reimposed by month-end

French President Emmanuel Macron said he expects international sanctions on Iran to be reinstated by the end of the month, citing Tehran’s lack of seriousness regarding its nuclear commitments.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, when asked whether sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme would return by month-end, Macron responded, “Yes, I think so, because the latest news we had from the Iranians are not serious.”

Last month, Britain, France, and Germany — all parties to the 2015 nuclear deal — initiated the process to trigger the UN’s “snapback” mechanism, paving the way for the reimposition of sanctions.

“France has always been a very demanding and clear and consistent player on the Iranian issue,” Macron told the Israeli news channel from Paris.

“And I think this is very important for your country and your people,” he added, addressing Israelis, among whom his plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN on Monday is widely unpopular.

“We never underestimated the risk of the nuclear bomb in Iran, but as well on ballistic capacities and regional destabilisation coming from Iran, as they are unclear and they don’t provide any clear commitment on that,” he said.

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“This is a European position and we’ve worked with our British and German colleagues. We will put the snapbacks,” he said, referring to the mechanism for the resumption of sanctions provided for by a UN Security Council resolution.

With inputs from agencies