Macron: Maximum Pressure on Tehran Ineffective

The United States’ maximum pressure campaign on Iran has so far failed, France’s president said on Tuesday.
He also dismissed US efforts to restore UN sanctions against Tehran because Washington had left the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
“The maximum pressure strategy, which has been underway for several years, has not at this stage made it possible to end Iran’s [allegedly] destabilizing activities or to ensure that it will not be able to acquire nuclear weapons,” Emmanuel Macron said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Reuters reported.
“This is why France, along with its German and British partners, will maintain its demand for the full implementation of the 2015 Vienna agreement and will not accept the violations committed by Iran.”
Macron’s stance is untenable as it flies in the face of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s conclusion that its regular inspections have found no evidence of any diversion from Iran’s civilian nuclear program.
Tehran denies any military aspects to its nuclear program. It maintains that the presence of foreign forces in the region is the root cause of insecurity and that its assistance to regional allies, such as Iraq and Syria, has been at their own request to help them fight militants. 
On its decision to reduce compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal, Iran says the “reversible” measures are a response to the US reimposition of sanctions and the failure of JCPOA parties, including France, to make up for them. 
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that dialogue and diplomacy should resolve issues related to Iran’s nuclear program under international law, with all parties adhering to the 2015 international agreement.
The United States on Monday announced new sanctions against Iran’s Defense Ministry and others involved in its nuclear and defense programs. The sanctions were meant to support Washington’s assertion, disputed by Europeans and others, that all United Nations sanctions against Tehran are now restored.
“We support solving issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program by taking international law into consideration and through dialogue and diplomacy,” Erdogan told the UN General Assembly in a video message.
“I repeat our call for all parties to abide by their responsibilities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which provides serious contributions to regional and global security,” he said.