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

French President Emmanuel Macron has called Iran the main “strategic and security challenge” for Europeans in the Middle East, raising concern over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The French president also criticized Iran for backing what he called “dangerous groups” in the Middle East and for backing Russia’s efforts to fight in Ukraine in a letter to French ambassadors posted around the world on Monday.

Macron claimed that the nuclear program’s rapid expansion has brought us “to the point where there is no turning back.”

Iran’s nuclear program was curbed in exchange for lifting international sanctions against its economy under the terms of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which was rejected by the United States in 2018.

The US resumed applying sanctions to Iran’s economy and imposed new ones after reneging on the deal.

Iran increased its uranium enrichment to higher levels, reducing the time it takes to get the material for a nuclear weapon from months to weeks.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly denied having nuclear weapons. However, Israel’s recent actions have caused the nation and its allies, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, to suffer. This raises the possibility that Tehran will launch a nuclear weapons to re-establish regional deterrence.

As former US President Donald Trump enters the White House later this month, Iran’s tensions may grow even more.

During his first term, in 2017-2021, Trump pulled the US from the nuclear deal and launched a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

He also ordered the 2020 assassination of influential Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, putting the two nations in danger of waging a full-feet.

Trump has appointed a number of foreign policy hawks who support regime change in Iran to senior positions in his incoming cabinet, while presenting himself as an antiwar politician.

Macron stated on Monday that France would discuss the “Iranian question” with the new US administration.

The French president also made an address about the Ukrainian conflict, arguing that the US should “convince Russia to come to the negotiating table.”

He argued that “capitulation by Ukraine cannot be good for Europeans and Americans,” and that “the credibility of Western nations would be “shattered” if they agreed to compromise on Ukraine because of “fatigue.”

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its Western allies have given the country tens of billions of dollars in military and financial aid.

Macron maintained that discussions with Ukrainians regarding territorial issues were necessary.