France Says It Must Approve Any UN Sanctions Relief for Iran

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on June 19 that France will not approve the lifting of United Nations sanctions on Iran unless it is satisfied with the terms of a final accord. -Iran talks to address Iran’s ballistic missile programme and support for proxies. He noted that sanctions relief at the United Nations must be matched by major concessions from Iran.

"The return for major concessions that will be asked of Iran is the lifting of sanctions, sanctions that were taken at the United Nations," Barrot said. France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and therefore holds veto power over any sanctions resolution. Barrot recalled that France exercised the same authority during the 2015 nuclear agreement.

"France is a permanent member of the United Nations (Security Council) so as was the case 10 years ago, France will have to give its approval for the sanctions to be lifted," he said. An agreement reached between the United States and Iran this week sets a 60-day timetable for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. Any final deal must be endorsed by the Security Council.

"Our objective is to get major concessions from the Iranian regime, a radical change in posture. And we will have our word to say, because as a member of the UNSC it will be necessarily linked to the resolution of this crisis," Barrot said.

U.S. President Barack Obama on the 2015 accord. U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from that agreement during his first term. The three European countries have sought a role in the coming talks after being sidelined in recent months.