“Macron Should Recall France's Arming of Saddam against Iran”

IFP News

Image from, under the headline: Emmanuel Macron calls on Iranian president Rouhani to 'respect' nuclear deal

An Iranian commentator says French President Emmanuel Macron, who is calling for further transparency on Iran’s defensive program, has forgotten that his country armed Iraq’s Saddam Hussein in war against Iran.

Excerpt:

The highlights of Nasri’s views on Iran-France relations, translated by the IFP News, follow: ...

France seeks to talk to Iran ... from a position of power, so that it might be able to play a role as a replacement for Mogherini to act as an intermediary between Iran and Saudi Arabia or Iran and the US.

It seems that so far, France’s harsh tone vis-à-vis Iran and its missile program, especially in comparison with the more logical and moderate position adopted by Mogherini [JB: see] and EU officials, has backfired.

The Rouhani administration is highly capable of establishing interaction and rapport with world powers. It can prevent the formation of consensus both inside and outside countries through different ways, namely through public diplomacy and enhancement of trade and economic ties with private players. What is more, a legal/political framework called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) exists between Iran, European countries, China and Russia, a framework which has many advocates and no country can easily violate it by imposing different sanctions.  ...