Jean-Noel Barrot: Trigger mechanism will be implemented if Iran does not cooperate

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that a trigger mechanism would be implemented if Iran does not cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday, July 15, at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels: "We call for the resumption of the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and the start of a diplomatic process that will lead to a negotiated solution and monitor Iran's nuclear, missile and destabilizing activities."

He warned, referring to Iran's violation of the JCPOA rules, adding: "The fact is that Iran has violated the commitments it accepted during the nuclear negotiations ten years ago. Therefore, France and its partners are entitled to reimpose global sanctions on weapons, banks and nuclear equipment that were lifted ten years ago. If Iran does not fulfill its responsibility, we will implement these measures by the end of August at the latest."

Noel Barrow emphasized that if the Iranian government does not make progress on a new nuclear agreement by September 29, the three European countries that are members of the JCPOA, namely Britain, France, and Germany, will activate the trigger mechanism, in which case all international sanctions against Iran, including banking and financial sanctions, will be applied immediately.

Iranian officials also warned the three European countries about implementing the mechanism. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in response to the implementation of the trigger mechanism: “The implementation of the trigger mechanism will lead to a decisive response from Iran.”