Iran’s nuclear programme nearing point of no return, says Macron

PARIS: Iran’s disputed uranium enrichment drive is nearing a point of no return and European partners to a moribund 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran should consider reimposing sanctions if there is no progress with Tehran, France’s president said on Monday.

Addressing an annual conference with French ambassadors to outline foreign policy objectives in 2025, President Emmanuel Macron described Iran as the main “strategic and security challenge” for France and Europe.

“The acceleration of the nuclear programme leads us nearly to the point of no return,” Macron said. Iran says it is enriching uranium for peaceful purposes and has stepped up the programme since US President-elect Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the 2015 deal during his first term of office and restored tough US sanctions on Tehran.

European powers France, Germany and Britain said last month Iran’s actions had further hollowed out the deal and would heighten its stockpile of high-enriched uranium without a “credible civilian justification”.