As talks on Iran's nuclear programme wrapped up with an interim deal in Geneva on Sunday, French President François Hollande took the opportunity to remind the international community of the key role that French diplomacy had played in the negotiations, reports FRANCE 24.
“The agreement respects the demands expressed by France in terms of uranium stockpiles and enrichment, a freeze on new facilities and international monitoring,” the French leader said in a statement on Sunday.
For Hollande, the “interim agreement represents an important step in the right direction” towards a comprehensive deal with Iran.
His cautious tone echoed comments by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who stuck to brief comments at the end of the Geneva meeting while other international negotiators engaged in a lengthy press conference.
“This agreement confirms Iran’s right to civil nuclear energy but totally prohibits the access to a military nuclear programme. Its implementation will be tightly controlled and we’ll have to be vigilant, of course,” Fabius said, highlighting France’s role in securing a solid agreement.
Since the return of Iranian and international representatives to the negotiating table earlier in the month, France has been striving to wrangle four additional commitments out of Iran.
“Our first demand is to put all Iranian nuclear installations under international control immediately. Second request: suspend the enrichment of uranium at 20%. Third demand: reduce the existing stockpile. Finally, stop construction at the Arak reactor,” President Hollande said on November 17.
Many observers had blamed France for its intransigent negotiating position during the previous round of talks, which ended without an agreement on November 9.
Those who did not trust Iran and opposed a deal, especially in US conservative circles, in Israel and in the Arab Gulf States, supported Fabius at the time. “Vive la France!” Republican US senator John McCain had even written on Twitter.
Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.