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US, France: Iran can't be allowed to develop nuclear weapon, must end terror support

WASHINGTON, April 24 (KUNA) -- France and the US agree that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and the Iranian regime must end its support of terrorism, President Donald Trump said Tuesday during a joint White House press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
"All over, no matter where you go in the Middle East, you see the fingerprints of Iran behind problems," Trump said.
Acknowledging Trump's opposition to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, Macron said, "We therefore wish for now to work on a new deal with Iran." Regarding what he described as a "convergence of views" on Iran, Macron said "the first one is to block any nuclear activity of Iran until 2025. This was feasible thanks to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
"The second is to make sure that, in the long run, there is no nuclear Iranian activity," Macron said.
The third fundamental topic is to be able to put an end to the ballistic activities of Iran in the region, he said.
The nuclear issue is "not the only one," Macron said. "Indeed there is a problem with the ballistical activity of Iran and their presence in a number of countries in the region," and "our willingness was, indeed, to set the conditions for the stability of the region." The fourth area of US-French agreement on Iran "is to generate the conditions for a political solution to contain Iran in the region" -- in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, he said.
For allies, "we want sustainable stability" and "a new agreement" with Iran, Macron said, and "beyond our European partners, we would like to involve the regional powers, and of course, Russia and Turkey." The approach to the JCPOA is "not about tearing apart an agreement and have nothing, but it's about building something new that will cover all of our concerns," Macron said.
Trump said the JCPOA "is a deal with decayed foundations. It's a bad deal, it's a bad structure. It's falling down -- should've never, ever been made. I blame Congress, I blame a lot of people for it." Trump said "we're going to see what happens on the 12th," referring to May 12, when the next six-month review deadline on the deal expires. "But I will say if Iran threatens us in any way, they will pay a price like few countries have ever paid." On North Korea, Trump said the US and France are cooperating to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
"We are grateful for France's key partnership in our campaign of maximum pressure on the North Korean regime," Trump said.
"As you know, I will soon be meeting with Kim Jong-un as we seek a future of peace, harmony and security for the whole Korean Peninsula, and in fact, for the whole world," Trump said. "However, in pursuit of peace ... The campaign of maximum pressure will continue." Asked what he means when he calls for the complete de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Trump said of North Korea, "It means they get rid of their nukes. Very simple, they get rid of their nukes, and nobody else would say it. It'd be very easy for me to make a simple deal and claim victory. I don't want to do that. I want them to get rid of their nukes." Macron said he and Trump discussed climate change, "and here also, we know where we stand. France will continue to work on major pieces, including the global compact for the environment, but I think I can say that our businesses, our researchers can continue to work on concrete solutions in the field, and we are both attached to that." Trump last year pulled the US out of the Paris climate accord.
Macron, on trade, said he and Trump are "both attached to make sure that between allies there is compliance with international trade law. At least France is attached to that. We have preferences." There are situations we can probably improve," he added. "But I believe that both you and I ... want to make sure that our businesses, our companies can operate in a long, sustainable and stable framework." (pickup previous) rm.bs