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France Determined to See Iran Nuclear Deal Implemented - Reports

Iran threatened earlier on Wednesday to enrich its uranium stockpile closer to weapons-grade levels in 60 days if world powers fail to negotiate new terms for the 2015 nuclear deal. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, meanwhile, has informed remaining parties to the deal — France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Russia — about the decision.
Sputnik

France on Wednesday called on Iran to respect all its commitments to the nuclear deal and non-proliferation treaties and warned against an escalation, Reuters reported. France said, cited by Reuters, it was determined to ensure that the accord remained fully implemented and determined to ensure that financial channels and exports remain open.

Tehran announced its decision to partially discontinue its 2015 nuclear deal commitments exactly a year after the US unilaterally left the accord and started unveiling toughest ever sanctions and days after it deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf in a "clear and unmistakable" message to the Islamic Republic.

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Moreover, the decision came on the heels of the US move to officially designate Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group in April and deploy a carrier strike group to the Persian Gulf on the weekend.

On 8 May 2018, US President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the JCPOA and reinstate wide-ranging sanctions on Iran as well as secondary sanctions against companies and financial institutions of countries that do business with that country. The United States also vowed to drive Iran's oil exports down to zero and demanded that other countries stop any such purchases.

Trump said in a statement on Wednesday that he looks forward to meeting with Iran's leaders to negotiate a new nuclear agreement.

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"Since our exit from the Iran deal, which is broken beyond repair, the United States has put forward 12 conditions that offer the basis of a comprehensive agreement with Iran", Trump said. "I look forward to someday meeting with the leaders of Iran in order to work out an agreement and, very importantly, taking steps to give Iran the future it deserves".

Trump in a separate executive order also announced on Wednesday new sanctions against Iranian metals like steel, iron, aluminum and copper. In a statement following the move he warned other nations not to import Iranian metals.

READ MORE: 'Nothing Worse': World Powers 'Concerned' as Iran Nuke Deal on Verge of COLLAPSE

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