France attached to Iran's JPOA, but concerned about ballistic activity

PARIS, Feb 19 (KUNA) -- French authorities on Monday said they remained "fully attached" to the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran but they expressed ongoing concern about Iran's activities in the region and Tehran's ballistic missile programme.
The Foreign Ministry said in a briefing that the "strict implementation" of the Joint Programme of Action (JPOA), signed between Iran and the P5+1, would make "a contribution to preserving the international nuclear non-proliferation system." The US wants the current nuclear accord revised and has threatened to withdraw from the agreement which could mean its collapse.
France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, as other signatories, are opposed to modifying the existing accord that is designed to halt Iran's nuclear activities in certain areas and prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Paris said that talks were ongoing with its partners regarding the current accord.
On the other hand, the French Foreign Ministry renewed its concern over Iran's ballistic missile programme and other destabilising activities in the region, "notably the indications that support has been given by this country to the Houthi (rebels) in Yemen." "We call on the international community to do more to help advance peace and stability in the region and to answer regional destabilisation actions carried out by Iran," Paris said. (end) jk.mt