France Asks Iran to Act Constructively During Nuclear Deal Talks

PARIS (Sputnik) - French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Saturday that he asked his Iranian counterpart to be constructive during the planned talks next week that will seek to revive the nuclear deal.

Minister Le Drian stressed that he had asked Tehran to avoid any further violations of its nuclear commitments.

"I have encouraged Iran to be constructive during the discussions that are set to take place", he said in a statement after a phone call with Javad Zarif.

Le Drian added that negotiations, which will take place in Vienna, would help signatories to the 2015 nuclear pact and the United States to identify steps needed to return to full compliance.

This Jan. 15, 2011 file photo, shows a part of Arak heavy water nuclear facilities, near the central city of Arak, 150 miles (250 kilometers) southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran.

© AP Photo / Mehdi Marizad/Fars News Agency

Zarif said in a Twitter post that he had urged his French opposite number to "show a constructive stance." The Iranian diplomat said he had "called on France to honour its commitments under the accord, and to cease abiding by illegal sanctions imposed by the US".

Washington previously expressed readiness to join the 6 April meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, also known as the Iranian nuclear deal). The Islamic Republic, however, repeatedly stressed that the American side should lift the sanctions before offering to start any negotiations.