Foreign ministers from Indo-Pacific nations attended a Paris conference Tuesday aimed at bringing the region, an important partner for trade and exports, squarely into Europe's focus in a rapidly changing world with rising security challenges.

New Zealand, India, South Korea, Japan and a clutch of other Asian nations were represented at the forum. China was not invited.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed that China was not being slighted, and EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell noted the long-standing "dedicated dialogue"&nbsp;between the EU and China.

"The Indo-Pacific strategy ... Is not an anti-China strategy. This strategy is not against anyone,"&nbsp;Le Drian said at a closing news conference. "It is a strategy for partnership development between the Indo-Pacific and the European Union."

Le Drian listed "concrete projects"&nbsp;that he said were planned or underway, from tackling climate change to health, but also security concerns.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the region an "aorta"&nbsp;for Europe with 40 per cent of the EU's trade passing through the region's waters.

"That's why we need freedom of navigation ... A security architecture that we have to build together,"&nbsp;Borrell said.

He announced a just-launched coordinated maritime presence with the region's navies.

It is "not a military alliance, not against anyone. It's a way of enhancing our presence and coordinating our means among the member states in order to be more able to act,"&nbsp;he said, without further elaboration.

Le Drian acknowledged concern over an emerging alliance between Russia and China "which is clearly defying the multilateral order."

"And that was another reason for us to engage more in the Indo-Pacific,? the French minister said.

Foreign ministers from Indo-Pacific nations attended a Paris conference Tuesday aimed at bringing the region, an important partner for trade and exports, squarely into Europe's focus in a rapidly changing world with rising security challenges.

Foreign ministers from Indo-Pacific nations attended a Paris conference Tuesday aimed at bringing the region, an important partner for trade and exports, squarely into Europe's focus in a rapidly changing world with rising security challenges. New Zealand, India, South Korea, Japan and a clutch of other Asian nations were represented at the forum. China was not invited. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed that China was not being slighted, and EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell noted the long-standing "dedicated dialogue" between the EU and China. "The Indo-Pacific strategy ... Is not an anti-China strategy. This strategy is not against anyone," Le Drian said at a closing news conference. "It is a strategy for partnership development between the Indo-Pacific and the European Union." Le Drian listed "concrete projects" that he said were planned or underway, from tackling climate change to health, but also security concerns. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the region an "aorta" for Europe with 40 per cent of the EU's trade passing through the region's waters. "That's why we need freedom of navigation ... A security architecture that we have to build together," Borrell said. He announced a just-launched coordinated maritime presence with the region's navies. It is "not a military alliance, not against anyone. It's a way of enhancing our presence and coordinating our means among the member states in order to be more able to act," he said, without further elaboration. Le Drian acknowledged concern over an emerging alliance between Russia and China "which is clearly defying the multilateral order." "And that was another reason for us to engage more in the Indo-Pacific,? the French minister said.

EU forum puts crucial Indo-Pacific region squarely on radar

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian held productive talks on Monday (February 21).&nbsp;

Both the ministers discussed bilateral cooperations and Indo-Pacific at lengths. They also discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis situation. "Arrived in Paris. Held wide-ranging and productive talks with FM Jean-Yves Le Drian," Jaishankar wrote on his Twitter. &nbsp;

He added, "Discussions on bilateral cooperation, Ukraine situation, Indo-Pacific and JCPOA reflected our deep trust &amp; global partnership. Look forward to participating in EU Ministerial Forum on Indo- Pacific."&nbsp;

On Sunday, Jaishankar began his three-day visit to France and he will also give an address at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).&nbsp;

The Indian external affairs minister is set to attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on February 22. The forum is crucial from the perspective of India as it will happen amid Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.&nbsp;

This visit comes after Jaishankar participated in the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2022 in Germany, where he held a series of meeting with ministers from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.&nbsp;

The border tensions have deteriorated as Russia has placed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine's borders in recent weeks, the United States and Western allies have estimated.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;France proposes Ukraine summit; Biden, Putin to de-escalate tensions

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(With inputs from agencies)

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian held productive talks on Monday (February 21). Both the ministers discussed bilateral cooperations and Indo-Pacific at lengths.

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian held productive talks on Monday (February 21). Both the ministers discussed bilateral cooperations and Indo-Pacific at lengths. They also discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis situation. "Arrived in Paris. Held wide-ranging and productive talks with FM Jean-Yves Le Drian," Jaishankar wrote on his Twitter. He added, "Discussions on bilateral cooperation, Ukraine situation, Indo-Pacific and JCPOA reflected our deep trust & global partnership. Look forward to participating in EU Ministerial Forum on Indo- Pacific." On Sunday, Jaishankar began his three-day visit to France and he will also give an address at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). The Indian external affairs minister is set to attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific on February 22. The forum is crucial from the perspective of India as it will happen amid Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. This visit comes after Jaishankar participated in the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2022 in Germany, where he held a series of meeting with ministers from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. The border tensions have deteriorated as Russia has placed more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine's borders in recent weeks, the United States and Western allies have estimated. WATCH | France proposes Ukraine summit; Biden, Putin to de-escalate tensions × (With inputs from agencies)

Indian and French foreign ministers discuss Russia-Ukraine situation, Indo-Pacific and JCPOA

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday arrived in New Delhi for his official visit, said the Ministry of External Affairs.

The French minister will&nbsp;be in India for a four-day visit during which he will&nbsp;be meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and will&nbsp;be expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.

"During his stay in New Delhi, Mr. Le Drian will hold talks with Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar on April 13, 2021, on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. He will also meet the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar at a panel discussion on Climate Change," according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. He will also participate in the Raisina Dialogue.

The French Minister and Jaishankar will also discuss the main regional and international issues including Myanmar, Iran, and the peace process in Afghanistan.

India and France enjoy a strategic partnership since 1998 which has been marked by regular high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse areas.

"Mr Le Drian`s visit will pave the way for further strengthening of the partnership across trade, defence, climate, migration and mobility, education and health sectors in the post-Covid context," the MEA said. Diplomatic sources told ANI that Indo-Pacific will be the key focus of discussions between the two ministers and Minister Drian is set to announce France joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative launched by PM Modi.

Sources further said that France will push for the EU Indo-Pacific strategy during the talks. India and France will discuss joint initiatives that have come to fruition including the new trilateral with Australia.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday arrived in New Delhi for his official visit, said the Ministry of External Affairs. The French minister will be in India for a four-day visit during which he will be meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and will be expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday arrived in New Delhi for his official visit, said the Ministry of External Affairs. The French minister will be in India for a four-day visit during which he will be meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and will be expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. "During his stay in New Delhi, Mr. Le Drian will hold talks with Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar on April 13, 2021, on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. He will also meet the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar at a panel discussion on Climate Change," according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. He will also participate in the Raisina Dialogue. The French Minister and Jaishankar will also discuss the main regional and international issues including Myanmar, Iran, and the peace process in Afghanistan. India and France enjoy a strategic partnership since 1998 which has been marked by regular high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse areas. "Mr Le Drian`s visit will pave the way for further strengthening of the partnership across trade, defence, climate, migration and mobility, education and health sectors in the post-Covid context," the MEA said. Diplomatic sources told ANI that Indo-Pacific will be the key focus of discussions between the two ministers and Minister Drian is set to announce France joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative launched by PM Modi. Sources further said that France will push for the EU Indo-Pacific strategy during the talks. India and France will discuss joint initiatives that have come to fruition including the new trilateral with Australia.

French Foreign Minister Le Drian arrives in India

France said it will host talks Thursday between the top diplomats of European powers and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken focused on Iran, as they try to salvage a 2015 deal on Tehran's nuclear programme.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet his counterparts Heiko Maas of Germany and Dominic Raab of Britain in Paris, with Blinken joining via videoconference, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday.

The European powers want to revive the nuclear deal that former President Donald Trump walked out of in 2018 but that the administration of Joe Biden has said it could rejoin if Tehran returns to compliance with the deal.

France said it will host talks Thursday between the top diplomats of European powers and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken focused on Iran, as they try to salvage a 2015 deal on Tehran's nuclear programme.

France said it will host talks Thursday between the top diplomats of European powers and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken focused on Iran, as they try to salvage a 2015 deal on Tehran's nuclear programme. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet his counterparts Heiko Maas of Germany and Dominic Raab of Britain in Paris, with Blinken joining via videoconference, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday. The European powers want to revive the nuclear deal that former President Donald Trump walked out of in 2018 but that the administration of Joe Biden has said it could rejoin if Tehran returns to compliance with the deal.

France to hold talks with European powers and US on Iran

A few days after the recent attack in the French city Nice, France's foreign minister&nbsp;Jean-Yves Le Drian has urged the citizens to exercise caution and stay extra vigilant as he claims the French citizens face a security risk "everywhere" in the world.

The minister has asked the security officials to tighten the security measures throughout the country to protect the citizens from the repeated attacks aimed at residents after re-publishing of a controversial caricature by the french magazine Charlie Hebdo.

His statement came after several countries, political leaders and international organisations called for a boycott for French products and asked the French President Emmanuel Macron to apologise for his statement claiming the repeated attacks in the European country is a result of&nbsp;"Islamist radicalism".&nbsp;

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Talking about the recent attack in Nice, Le Drian said the motive behind the attack was still unclear but the matter was being treated as a terror attack. The Interior Minister&nbsp;Gerald Darmanin also said that the suspect "wasn't on any of our security watchlists, either French or European." He also added, resonating the President's remarks that the country&nbsp;was "at war with Islamist extremism... an enemy that is both internal and external."

Le Drian's statement came after the country increased security across the country, especially near the borders and churches, especially for the upcoming All Saints' Day holiday on Sunday. The ministry has also issued a security warning for the French residents living abroad, urging them to stay cautious and vigilant against any possible personal attack, the foreign minister said.

The minister was earlier in the news when he publically&nbsp;accused Turkey of "trying to whip up hatred" against France and announced that the country will be recalling its envoy to Turkey after the Turkish&nbsp;President Recep Tayyip Erdogan passed a controversial remark claiming that the French President needed a medical check-up of his mental abilities for passing a remark stating that the religion of Islam is in danger and crisis all over the world. This was the second time Erdogan had issued such a statement. Last year, he had said Macron was "brain dead".

A few days after the recent attack in the French city Nice, France's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has urged the citizens to exercise caution and stay extra vigilant as he claims the French citizens face a security risk "everywhere" in the world.

A few days after the recent attack in the French city Nice, France's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has urged the citizens to exercise caution and stay extra vigilant as he claims the French citizens face a security risk "everywhere" in the world. The minister has asked the security officials to tighten the security measures throughout the country to protect the citizens from the repeated attacks aimed at residents after re-publishing of a controversial caricature by the french magazine Charlie Hebdo. His statement came after several countries, political leaders and international organisations called for a boycott for French products and asked the French President Emmanuel Macron to apologise for his statement claiming the repeated attacks in the European country is a result of "Islamist radicalism". Also read| Canada's Justin Trudeau condemns France attacks but says free speech has limits Talking about the recent attack in Nice, Le Drian said the motive behind the attack was still unclear but the matter was being treated as a terror attack. The Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin also said that the suspect "wasn't on any of our security watchlists, either French or European." He also added, resonating the President's remarks that the country was "at war with Islamist extremism... an enemy that is both internal and external." Le Drian's statement came after the country increased security across the country, especially near the borders and churches, especially for the upcoming All Saints' Day holiday on Sunday. The ministry has also issued a security warning for the French residents living abroad, urging them to stay cautious and vigilant against any possible personal attack, the foreign minister said. The minister was earlier in the news when he publically accused Turkey of "trying to whip up hatred" against France and announced that the country will be recalling its envoy to Turkey after the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan passed a controversial remark claiming that the French President needed a medical check-up of his mental abilities for passing a remark stating that the religion of Islam is in danger and crisis all over the world. This was the second time Erdogan had issued such a statement. Last year, he had said Macron was "brain dead".

'French nationals at risk everywhere', Foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claims

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday said that Lebanon is at "risk of disappearing". He urged emergency reforms under a new government.

"The risk today is of Lebanon disappearing so these measures have to be taken," he told RTL radio ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's return visit to Beirut next week to push reform and reconstruction after the devastating port blast.

"They are caught up between themselves in a consensus of inactivity," Le Drian said. "That can't go on and we are saying that very clearly."

"The President of the Republic said it when he went to Lebanon on August 6. He will say it again when he'll be in Beirut on Tuesday."

Macron will begin his reconstruction efforts on Monday but will also look at the political scenario in Lebanon after the whole government resigned.&nbsp;

Macron visited Beirut two days after the massive explosion at the port killed 181 people and wounded thousands.

On August 9, he chaired a video conference that saw world leaders pledge more than 250 million euros ($295 million) for Lebanon.

"The country is on the edge of the precipice," Le Drian added, calling for a new government to be set up quickly. "There's a humanitarian and health emergency," he said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday said that Lebanon is at "risk of disappearing". He urged emergency reforms under a new government. "The risk today is of Lebanon disappearing so these measures have to be taken," he told RTL radio ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's return visit to Beirut next week to push reform and reconstruction after the devastating port blast.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday said that Lebanon is at "risk of disappearing". He urged emergency reforms under a new government. "The risk today is of Lebanon disappearing so these measures have to be taken," he told RTL radio ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's return visit to Beirut next week to push reform and reconstruction after the devastating port blast. "They are caught up between themselves in a consensus of inactivity," Le Drian said. "That can't go on and we are saying that very clearly." "The President of the Republic said it when he went to Lebanon on August 6. He will say it again when he'll be in Beirut on Tuesday." Macron will begin his reconstruction efforts on Monday but will also look at the political scenario in Lebanon after the whole government resigned. Macron visited Beirut two days after the massive explosion at the port killed 181 people and wounded thousands. On August 9, he chaired a video conference that saw world leaders pledge more than 250 million euros ($295 million) for Lebanon. "The country is on the edge of the precipice," Le Drian added, calling for a new government to be set up quickly. "There's a humanitarian and health emergency," he said.

Lebanon at 'risk of disappearing', French Foreign Minister warns

Two fraudsters who impersonated a senior ally of the French President Emmanuel Macron, have been sentenced jail by a courtroom in Paris.

Franco-Israelis Gilbert Chikli and Anthony Lasarevitsch tricked wealthy people out of more than €55 million.

They conned their victims by donning a silicone mask and by impersonating Jean-Yves Le Drian, a senior ally of the French President Emmanuel Macron.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-fm-urges-iran-to-show-political-maturity-over-us-nuclear-deal-pullout-217880">French FM urges Iran to show 'political maturity' over US nuclear deal pullout</a>

They denied fraud and usurping Le Drian's identity but were found guilty.

Chikli was jailed for 11 years and fined €2 million while Lasarevitsch received a seven-year sentence and a fine of €1 million.

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According to the prosecutors, in meetings arranged on Skype, one of the fraudsters used to wear a custom-made Le Drian mask and sit in a facsimile of Mr Le Drian's ministerial office along with flags and a portrait of then-President François Hollande.

They would ask politicians and prominent business leaders to part with money for ransom payments to hostage-takers or for anti-terror operations.

Previously, the prosecutors had asked for sentences of 10 and 14 years for two alleged fraudsters in the bizarre scam that took place from 2015-2016 when Le Drian was defence minister.&nbsp;

Le Drian became the foreign minister of France in 2017 after serving five years as the defence minister.&nbsp;

Two fraudsters who impersonated a senior ally of the French President Emmanuel Macron, have been sentenced jail by a courtroom in Paris. Franco-Israelis Gilbert Chikli and Anthony Lasarevitsch tricked wealthy people out of more than €55 million.

Two fraudsters who impersonated a senior ally of the French President Emmanuel Macron, have been sentenced jail by a courtroom in Paris. Franco-Israelis Gilbert Chikli and Anthony Lasarevitsch tricked wealthy people out of more than €55 million. They conned their victims by donning a silicone mask and by impersonating Jean-Yves Le Drian, a senior ally of the French President Emmanuel Macron. Also read: French FM urges Iran to show 'political maturity' over US nuclear deal pullout They denied fraud and usurping Le Drian's identity but were found guilty. Chikli was jailed for 11 years and fined €2 million while Lasarevitsch received a seven-year sentence and a fine of €1 million. Also read: Romance scam: How to avoid falling prey to online dating scamsters According to the prosecutors, in meetings arranged on Skype, one of the fraudsters used to wear a custom-made Le Drian mask and sit in a facsimile of Mr Le Drian's ministerial office along with flags and a portrait of then-President François Hollande. They would ask politicians and prominent business leaders to part with money for ransom payments to hostage-takers or for anti-terror operations. Previously, the prosecutors had asked for sentences of 10 and 14 years for two alleged fraudsters in the bizarre scam that took place from 2015-2016 when Le Drian was defence minister. Le Drian became the foreign minister of France in 2017 after serving five years as the defence minister.

Fraudsters who impersonated French President Macron's senior ally jailed after trial

More&nbsp;than&nbsp;250&nbsp;people&nbsp;from&nbsp;30 countries arrived in&nbsp;France&nbsp;on Sunday after being flown out of the Chinese city of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-evacuates-200-people-from-wuhan-the-epicentre-of-coronavirus-outbreak-in-china-278211">Wuhan</a>, the center of an outbreak of a coronavirus,&nbsp;French&nbsp;officials said.

The&nbsp;French&nbsp;plane&nbsp;landed at a military airbase in Istres, southern&nbsp;France.

Out of the 254 evacuees, 124 were returning to their home countries,&nbsp;French&nbsp;Health Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-may-face-sperm-shortage-under-macron-plan-to-ease-ivf-rules-251763">Agnes Buzyn</a> said.

Sixty-four&nbsp;French&nbsp;nationals&nbsp;will be quarantined either at a holiday resort at Carry-le-Rouet or at the&nbsp;French&nbsp;National Fire Officers' Academy near Aix-en-Provence.

<img alt="Police officers guard an accommodation at a firefighter school, where people will be quarantined as preventive measure in light of the coronavirus outbreak in China, after their evacuation from Wuhan area, in Aix-en-Provence, near Marseille, France" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d3866172-6f56-4bb6-964e-4c071a7b67c6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_18.jpg" />

Sixty non-European&nbsp;nationals, including&nbsp;from&nbsp;Mexico, Brazil, Rwanda, and Georgia, we're staying in&nbsp;France&nbsp;for a 14-day quarantine. Twenty evacuees presented some coronavirus symptoms and stayed at the military airbase until tests show if they had the virus.

Foreign&nbsp;Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-prefer-to-download-black-boxes-iran-after-plane-crash-blamed-on-missile-273396">Jean-Yves Le Drian</a> said the&nbsp;plane&nbsp;carried&nbsp;nationals&nbsp;of 30 countries.

The Czech Republic said it had five citizens onboard and that that they would fly on to Brussels to be taken home on a Czech&nbsp;plane.

Sweden said about 10 of its&nbsp;nationals&nbsp;were on the flight and would be taken on to Sweden. Some British&nbsp;nationals&nbsp;were also on board.

More than 250 people from 30 countries arrived in France on Sunday after being flown out of the Chinese city of Wuhan, the center of an outbreak of a coronavirus, French officials said.

More than 250 people from 30 countries arrived in France on Sunday after being flown out of the Chinese city of Wuhan, the center of an outbreak of a coronavirus, French officials said. The French plane landed at a military airbase in Istres, southern France. Out of the 254 evacuees, 124 were returning to their home countries, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said. Sixty-four French nationals will be quarantined either at a holiday resort at Carry-le-Rouet or at the French National Fire Officers' Academy near Aix-en-Provence. Sixty non-European nationals, including from Mexico, Brazil, Rwanda, and Georgia, we're staying in France for a 14-day quarantine. Twenty evacuees presented some coronavirus symptoms and stayed at the military airbase until tests show if they had the virus. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the plane carried nationals of 30 countries. The Czech Republic said it had five citizens onboard and that that they would fly on to Brussels to be taken home on a Czech plane. Sweden said about 10 of its nationals were on the flight and would be taken on to Sweden. Some British nationals were also on board.

Plane brings more than 250 foreign nationals from epidemic-hit Wuhan to France

The EU's diplomatic chief warned Friday that it may not be possible to save the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-rejects-trump-call-to-ditch-iran-nuclear-pact-273497">Iran nuclear deal</a>, as the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-concerned-over-recent-development-in-middle-east-after-soleimanis-killing-273398">Middle East</a>.

Europe has led efforts to save the 2015 accord, gravely undermined by Trump's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and Iran's subsequent winding down of its compliance, but to little effect.

After an afternoon of talks with ministers, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-invites-iranian-foreign-minister-zarif-to-brussels-amid-rising-middle-east-tension-272290">Josep Borrell</a>, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, reiterated Europe's continuing support for the deal but warned it may be doomed.

"We want to save this deal if it's possible," he said, warning that negotiating a new pact would be a "very complex, highly technical process" that would take a long time.

Friday's meeting did not discuss triggering the deal's dispute resolution mechanism, which could ultimately lead to the UN Security Council reimposing sanctions on Iran.

"Maybe we cannot avoid that the JCPOA finally is being cancelled because the dispute mechanism can be triggered and I cannot exclude that this happens," Borrell said, using an abbreviation for the deal's formal name.

The three European parties to the pact, Britain, France and Germany, have all stressed their commitment to saving it, in defiance of a call by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Trump</a> this week to join him in walking away.

France and Germany have warned for some time that unless Iran returns to full compliance with the terms of the deal, they may trigger the dispute mechanism.

But the Europeans are expected to wait for UN inspectors to report on what Iran is doing on the ground following its latest announcement.

Earlier Friday, French Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-prefer-to-download-black-boxes-iran-after-plane-crash-blamed-on-missile-273396">Jean-Yves Le Drian</a> warned that without action, Iran could soon be in a position to develop the bomb.

"If they continue to unravel the Vienna accord then yes in quite a short period, between one and two years, they could have a nuclear weapon, which is unimaginable," he told France's RTL radio.

Several other ministers at the talks restated the EU's continuing determination to preserve the deal, which they say is vital for non-proliferation and regional security.

But Lithuania's Linas Linkevicius said that without some substantial change, "it will be difficult to believe that this agreement could be alive".

Friday's highly unusual emergency meeting was called in response to soaring Middle East tensions following the killing of Iranian general <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-tensions-washington-turns-down-iraqi-request-to-remove-troops-273509">Qasem Soleimani</a> in an American drone strike.

Fears of all-out war have subsided since US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-has-given-important-data-on-iran-plane-crash-ukraine-foreign-minister-273408">Donald Trump</a> made a statement on Wednesday saying Tehran appeared to be "standing down" after firing missiles, without causing casualties at US troops based in Iraq.

But the fatal crash of a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran in the midst of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-gets-access-to-crashed-planes-black-boxes-foreign-minister-273477">crisis</a> was on ministers' minds, with several urging Tehran to carry out a transparent inquiry.

Reports from several Western capitals indicated that the crash of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Boeing 737</a>, which killed 176 people appeared to have been caused by an Iranian air defence missile.

"This is more than tragic&nbsp;the important thing now is that everything is completely investigated," said German Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-zelensky-meet-in-paris-for-summit-amid-push-to-end-ukraine-war-267304">Heiko Maas</a> as he arrived for the talks.

"Nothing must be swept under the table because if that were the case, it would be the breeding ground for new mistrust."

His Dutch counterpart Stef Blok echoed his call, saying it was "very likely" an Iranian missile brought the plane down.

NATO Secretary-General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-fully-respect-iraqs-sovereignty-says-irans-un-ambassador-after-ballistic-missile-strike-273064">Jens Stoltenberg</a> added his voice to the calls for transparency and said he had "no reason to not believe" alliance members Britain and Canada when they blamed a missile for the crash.

Also Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-leaders-set-to-meet-for-paris-talks-with-bleak-prospects-of-peace-266434">Vadym Prystaiko</a> told a Kiev briefing that a team of his country's experts had been given access to the plane's black box flight recorders and were receiving "full cooperation" from the Iranian authorities.

Also on the ministers' agenda was the crisis in Libya, where the UN-backed government is under threat from rival strongman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-haftar-forces-seize-large-parts-of-sirte-city-272759">Khalifa Haftar</a>.

European powers fear the ongoing chaos in Libya could lead to a fresh wave of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean or allow the Islamic State group to gain a foothold to launch attacks.

Borrell warned that the crisis could "spiral out of control" and called for a ceasefire.

An EU diplomat said the ministers gave unanimous backing to a planned international conference in Berlin, with Germany delegated to represent the bloc as a whole.

The EU's diplomatic chief warned Friday that it may not be possible to save the Iran nuclear deal, as the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks on the Middle East.

The EU's diplomatic chief warned Friday that it may not be possible to save the Iran nuclear deal, as the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks on the Middle East. Europe has led efforts to save the 2015 accord, gravely undermined by Trump's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and Iran's subsequent winding down of its compliance, but to little effect. After an afternoon of talks with ministers, Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, reiterated Europe's continuing support for the deal but warned it may be doomed. "We want to save this deal if it's possible," he said, warning that negotiating a new pact would be a "very complex, highly technical process" that would take a long time. Friday's meeting did not discuss triggering the deal's dispute resolution mechanism, which could ultimately lead to the UN Security Council reimposing sanctions on Iran. "Maybe we cannot avoid that the JCPOA finally is being cancelled because the dispute mechanism can be triggered and I cannot exclude that this happens," Borrell said, using an abbreviation for the deal's formal name. The three European parties to the pact, Britain, France and Germany, have all stressed their commitment to saving it, in defiance of a call by Trump this week to join him in walking away. France and Germany have warned for some time that unless Iran returns to full compliance with the terms of the deal, they may trigger the dispute mechanism. But the Europeans are expected to wait for UN inspectors to report on what Iran is doing on the ground following its latest announcement. Earlier Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that without action, Iran could soon be in a position to develop the bomb. "If they continue to unravel the Vienna accord then yes in quite a short period, between one and two years, they could have a nuclear weapon, which is unimaginable," he told France's RTL radio. Several other ministers at the talks restated the EU's continuing determination to preserve the deal, which they say is vital for non-proliferation and regional security. But Lithuania's Linas Linkevicius said that without some substantial change, "it will be difficult to believe that this agreement could be alive". Friday's highly unusual emergency meeting was called in response to soaring Middle East tensions following the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in an American drone strike. Fears of all-out war have subsided since US President Donald Trump made a statement on Wednesday saying Tehran appeared to be "standing down" after firing missiles, without causing casualties at US troops based in Iraq. But the fatal crash of a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran in the midst of the crisis was on ministers' minds, with several urging Tehran to carry out a transparent inquiry. Reports from several Western capitals indicated that the crash of the Boeing 737, which killed 176 people appeared to have been caused by an Iranian air defence missile. "This is more than tragic the important thing now is that everything is completely investigated," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas as he arrived for the talks. "Nothing must be swept under the table because if that were the case, it would be the breeding ground for new mistrust." His Dutch counterpart Stef Blok echoed his call, saying it was "very likely" an Iranian missile brought the plane down. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg added his voice to the calls for transparency and said he had "no reason to not believe" alliance members Britain and Canada when they blamed a missile for the crash. Also Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko told a Kiev briefing that a team of his country's experts had been given access to the plane's black box flight recorders and were receiving "full cooperation" from the Iranian authorities. Also on the ministers' agenda was the crisis in Libya, where the UN-backed government is under threat from rival strongman Khalifa Haftar. European powers fear the ongoing chaos in Libya could lead to a fresh wave of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean or allow the Islamic State group to gain a foothold to launch attacks. Borrell warned that the crisis could "spiral out of control" and called for a ceasefire. An EU diplomat said the ministers gave unanimous backing to a planned international conference in Berlin, with Germany delegated to represent the bloc as a whole.

European Union warns Iran nuclear deal may collapse

Iran said Thursday that European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal could not trigger a dispute mechanism in the agreement that could lead to the reimposition of UN sanctions.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had Wednesday raised the possibility of triggering the mechanism, but Iran's foreign ministry disputed that this would be permissible.

The deal "does not allow the European parties to invoke the mechanism as Iran is exercising its legal right in response to the United States' illegal and unilateral actions," ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said, quoted by semi-official news agency ISNA.

The nuclear deal -- known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- has been unravelling since May 2018 when the United States unilaterally withdrew from it and began reimposing sanctions on Iran.

The three European countries still party to the deal -- Britain, France and Germany -- have been trying to salvage it.

But their efforts have borne little fruit and one year after the US pullout Iran began retaliating by taking a series of steps to row back its commitments to the accord.

On Wednesday, Le Drian said that "every two months there is another notch (from Iran) to the extent that we are wondering today... about the implementation of the dispute resolution mechanism in the treaty".

"Given the succession of actions taken by the Iranian authorities, who are progressively at odds with the contents of the JCPOA, the question comes up," he added.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman hit out at what he called the "irresponsible and unconstructive" remarks.

"It extremely discredits the effectiveness of political initiatives for the whole implementation of the JCPOA by all sides in line with the system of lifting sanctions," said Mousavi.

Iran said Thursday that European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal could not trigger a dispute mechanism in the agreement that could lead to the reimposition of UN sanctions.

Iran said Thursday that European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal could not trigger a dispute mechanism in the agreement that could lead to the reimposition of UN sanctions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had Wednesday raised the possibility of triggering the mechanism, but Iran's foreign ministry disputed that this would be permissible. The deal "does not allow the European parties to invoke the mechanism as Iran is exercising its legal right in response to the United States' illegal and unilateral actions," ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said, quoted by semi-official news agency ISNA. The nuclear deal -- known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- has been unravelling since May 2018 when the United States unilaterally withdrew from it and began reimposing sanctions on Iran. The three European countries still party to the deal -- Britain, France and Germany -- have been trying to salvage it. But their efforts have borne little fruit and one year after the US pullout Iran began retaliating by taking a series of steps to row back its commitments to the accord. On Wednesday, Le Drian said that "every two months there is another notch (from Iran) to the extent that we are wondering today... about the implementation of the dispute resolution mechanism in the treaty". "Given the succession of actions taken by the Iranian authorities, who are progressively at odds with the contents of the JCPOA, the question comes up," he added. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman hit out at what he called the "irresponsible and unconstructive" remarks. "It extremely discredits the effectiveness of political initiatives for the whole implementation of the JCPOA by all sides in line with the system of lifting sanctions," said Mousavi.

Iran says Europeans cannot invoke nuclear deal's dispute mechanism

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try to save his job and his hardline <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-johnson-vows-to-fight-on-despite-brexit-blows-248502">Brexit strategy</a>&nbsp;Monday when he confronts parliament and his Irish counterpart in another showdown week.

The charismatic but divisive British leader finds himself facing a political impasse, just six weeks after taking over from his beleaguered predecessor Theresa May.

The new prime minister has vowed to take Britain out of the European Union after 46 years with or without a divorce deal by October 31, but has been blocked by parliament.

Johnson's bid to break the deadlock through a snap general election on October 15 is also facing an almost certain second successive defeat by lawmakers Monday.

It comes after a week in which he took a battering from resignations and sackings that included his own brother and Winston Churchill's grandson, leaving him without a working majority in parliament.

Two of his most senior ministers both rejected speculation Sunday that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/id-rather-be-dead-in-a-ditch-than-delay-brexit-british-pm-boris-johnson-247871">Johnson</a> had no real option but to resign.

But neither could say clearly how he intended to keep all his Brexit promises without somehow bending UK law.

"Of course he is not going to break the law," Foreign Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News.

"We have a plan, which is to stick to what we have been doing," Interior Minister Sajid Javid told the BBC.

'It's no!'

The chaos is being compounded by Johnson's decision to suspend parliament for over a month from some point between Monday and Thursday.

The legal but controversial step was meant to remove domestic obstacles while he uses his "no-deal" <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-lawmakers-willing-to-go-to-court-to-enforce-brexit-delay-bbc-248240">Brexit</a> threat to wrest better divorce terms from Brussels at a leadership summit on October 17-18.

But it ended up jolting parliament into racing through legislation forcing Johnson to ask for what would be a third Brexit <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-lawmakers-vote-to-block-no-deal-brexit-in-fresh-blow-to-pm-johnson-247639">extension</a> if no new deal emerges by October 19.

Raab said Johnson would "test to the limit" the law in court.

European leaders are also skeptical that another delay designed to avoid economic disruption was still worth all the political pain.

"In the current circumstances, it's 'no!'," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a Sunday political talk show in Paris.

"We are not going through this every three months."

All 28 current EU leaders would have to approve what would be the third Brexit extension this year.

Low expectations

The one EU nation that stands to lose the most from a messy breakup is Ireland.

Brussels rules require a post-Brexit border to go up along what is now an all-but-invisible frontier with Britain's Nothern Ireland if no alternative arrangement is found.

The issue was meant to be resolved by a "backstop" -- a complicated fudge that kept the North partially in and out of the EU while the sides sought a long-term fix.

But the backstop's inclusion ended up costing Theresa May her premiership after it was rejected by parliament three times.

Johnson pronounced it "dead" during his successful leadership campaign.

He travels to Dublin on Monday for his first official meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in search of a short-term compromise.

It is feared that a hard border could hit the Irish economy and jeopardize the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that brought the three-decade Northern Ireland conflict to an end.

Yet Brussels has rejected the alternative proposals aired by Johnson as either unworkable or unacceptable under EU rules.

Varadkar said he was keeping his expectations low heading into the talks.

"I don't think the meeting tomorrow is a high stakes meeting in the sense that I don't anticipate a big breakthrough tomorrow," the Irish prime minister said Sunday.

"If we come to an agreement, that agreement will happen most likely in October at the EU summit."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try to save his job and his hardline Brexit strategy Monday when he confronts parliament and his Irish counterpart in another showdown week.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try to save his job and his hardline Brexit strategy Monday when he confronts parliament and his Irish counterpart in another showdown week. The charismatic but divisive British leader finds himself facing a political impasse, just six weeks after taking over from his beleaguered predecessor Theresa May. The new prime minister has vowed to take Britain out of the European Union after 46 years with or without a divorce deal by October 31, but has been blocked by parliament. Johnson's bid to break the deadlock through a snap general election on October 15 is also facing an almost certain second successive defeat by lawmakers Monday. It comes after a week in which he took a battering from resignations and sackings that included his own brother and Winston Churchill's grandson, leaving him without a working majority in parliament. Two of his most senior ministers both rejected speculation Sunday that Johnson had no real option but to resign. But neither could say clearly how he intended to keep all his Brexit promises without somehow bending UK law. "Of course he is not going to break the law," Foreign Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News. "We have a plan, which is to stick to what we have been doing," Interior Minister Sajid Javid told the BBC. 'It's no!' The chaos is being compounded by Johnson's decision to suspend parliament for over a month from some point between Monday and Thursday. The legal but controversial step was meant to remove domestic obstacles while he uses his "no-deal" Brexit threat to wrest better divorce terms from Brussels at a leadership summit on October 17-18. But it ended up jolting parliament into racing through legislation forcing Johnson to ask for what would be a third Brexit extension if no new deal emerges by October 19. Raab said Johnson would "test to the limit" the law in court. European leaders are also skeptical that another delay designed to avoid economic disruption was still worth all the political pain. "In the current circumstances, it's 'no!'," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a Sunday political talk show in Paris. "We are not going through this every three months." All 28 current EU leaders would have to approve what would be the third Brexit extension this year. Low expectations The one EU nation that stands to lose the most from a messy breakup is Ireland. Brussels rules require a post-Brexit border to go up along what is now an all-but-invisible frontier with Britain's Nothern Ireland if no alternative arrangement is found. The issue was meant to be resolved by a "backstop" -- a complicated fudge that kept the North partially in and out of the EU while the sides sought a long-term fix. But the backstop's inclusion ended up costing Theresa May her premiership after it was rejected by parliament three times. Johnson pronounced it "dead" during his successful leadership campaign. He travels to Dublin on Monday for his first official meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in search of a short-term compromise. It is feared that a hard border could hit the Irish economy and jeopardize the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that brought the three-decade Northern Ireland conflict to an end. Yet Brussels has rejected the alternative proposals aired by Johnson as either unworkable or unacceptable under EU rules. Varadkar said he was keeping his expectations low heading into the talks. "I don't think the meeting tomorrow is a high stakes meeting in the sense that I don't anticipate a big breakthrough tomorrow," the Irish prime minister said Sunday. "If we come to an agreement, that agreement will happen most likely in October at the EU summit."

Britain's Boris Johnson tries to save his job and hardline Brexit

The diplomatic chiefs of the EU, France, Germany and Britain said Tuesday they were "extremely concerned" and urged Iran to reverse its decision to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067">breach a limit on enriched uranium reserves</a> under a 2015 nuclear deal.

"We urge Iran to reverse this step and to refrain from further measures that undermine the nuclear deal," said the joint statement signed by EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and the three countries' foreign ministers -- France's Jean-Yves Le Drian, Germany's Heiko Maas and Britain's Jeremy Hunt.&nbsp;

Tehran said Monday that it had made good on its warning that it would breach the limit in response to Washington abandoning the nuclear deal last year and hitting Iran's crucial oil exports and financial transactions with biting sanctions.

Iran, which has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal, announced on May 8 that it would no longer respect the limit set on its enriched uranium and heavy water stockpiles.

It threatened to abandon further nuclear commitments unless the deal's remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- helped it circumvent sanctions, especially to sell its oil.

"We have been consistent and clear that our commitment to the nuclear deal depends on full compliance by Iran," said the joint statement on Tuesday.

"We regret this decision by Iran, which calls into question an essential instrument of nuclear nonproliferation."

It added that the group was "urgently considering next steps under the terms" of the deal, which saw Iran commit to never acquiring an atomic bomb, accept drastic limits on its nuclear programme and submit to IAEA inspections in exchange for a partial lifting of international sanctions.

The diplomatic chiefs of the EU, France, Germany and Britain said Tuesday they were "extremely concerned" and urged Iran to reverse its decision to breach a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal.

The diplomatic chiefs of the EU, France, Germany and Britain said Tuesday they were "extremely concerned" and urged Iran to reverse its decision to breach a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal. "We urge Iran to reverse this step and to refrain from further measures that undermine the nuclear deal," said the joint statement signed by EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and the three countries' foreign ministers -- France's Jean-Yves Le Drian, Germany's Heiko Maas and Britain's Jeremy Hunt. Tehran said Monday that it had made good on its warning that it would breach the limit in response to Washington abandoning the nuclear deal last year and hitting Iran's crucial oil exports and financial transactions with biting sanctions. Iran, which has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal, announced on May 8 that it would no longer respect the limit set on its enriched uranium and heavy water stockpiles. It threatened to abandon further nuclear commitments unless the deal's remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- helped it circumvent sanctions, especially to sell its oil. "We have been consistent and clear that our commitment to the nuclear deal depends on full compliance by Iran," said the joint statement on Tuesday. "We regret this decision by Iran, which calls into question an essential instrument of nuclear nonproliferation." It added that the group was "urgently considering next steps under the terms" of the deal, which saw Iran commit to never acquiring an atomic bomb, accept drastic limits on its nuclear programme and submit to IAEA inspections in exchange for a partial lifting of international sanctions.

European Union, France, Germany and UK urge Iran to reverse uranium decision

France&nbsp;said Tuesday it was stepping up efforts to stop&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;executing four<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-french-is-members-sentenced-to-death-in-iraq-judiciary-221787"> </a>French citizens convicted of fighting alongside the Islamic State (IS) group.

An Iraqi court&nbsp;on&nbsp;Sunday sentenced<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-french-is-members-sentenced-to-death-in-iraq-judiciary-221787"> three French nationals to death for joining the Islamic State group</a>, the first IS members from&nbsp;France&nbsp;to be sentenced to capital punishment.

On&nbsp;Monday, a fourth French citizen was also condemned to death in Baghdad. The four have 30 days to appeal.

"We are increasing the steps to avoid the death penalty for these four French citizens," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said&nbsp;on&nbsp;France&nbsp;Inter radio&nbsp;on&nbsp;Tuesday.

"We are opposed to the death penalty... I myself reminded the president of&nbsp;Iraq, President (Barham) Saleh, of our position," he said, without giving further details.

In recent months,&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;has taken custody of thousands of jihadists, including foreigners, captured in neighbouring Syria by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) during the battle to destroy the IS "caliphate".

France&nbsp;has long insisted that it's adult citizens captured in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;or Syria must face trial locally, refusing to repatriate them despite the risk they face capital punishment for waging their jihadist war in the region.

Le Drian reaffirmed&nbsp;France's refusal to accept any repatriations of its nationals affiliated with IS. "These terrorists,&nbsp;because they are terrorists, who attacked us, who also caused death in&nbsp;Iraq, must be judged where they committed their crimes," he said.

The Iraqi judiciary said earlier in May that it has tried and sentenced more than 500 suspected foreign members of IS since the start of 2018.

Its courts have condemned many to live in prison and others to death, although no foreign IS members have yet been executed. The country remains in the top five "executioner" nations in the world, an Amnesty International report said in April.

France said Tuesday it was stepping up efforts to stop Iraq executing four French citizens convicted of fighting alongside the Islamic State (IS) group. An Iraqi court on Sunday sentenced three French nationals to death for joining the Islamic State group, the first IS members from France to be sentenced to capital punishment.

France said Tuesday it was stepping up efforts to stop Iraq executing four French citizens convicted of fighting alongside the Islamic State (IS) group. An Iraqi court on Sunday sentenced three French nationals to death for joining the Islamic State group, the first IS members from France to be sentenced to capital punishment. On Monday, a fourth French citizen was also condemned to death in Baghdad. The four have 30 days to appeal. "We are increasing the steps to avoid the death penalty for these four French citizens," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on France Inter radio on Tuesday. "We are opposed to the death penalty... I myself reminded the president of Iraq, President (Barham) Saleh, of our position," he said, without giving further details. In recent months, Iraq has taken custody of thousands of jihadists, including foreigners, captured in neighbouring Syria by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) during the battle to destroy the IS "caliphate". France has long insisted that it's adult citizens captured in Iraq or Syria must face trial locally, refusing to repatriate them despite the risk they face capital punishment for waging their jihadist war in the region. Le Drian reaffirmed France's refusal to accept any repatriations of its nationals affiliated with IS. "These terrorists, because they are terrorists, who attacked us, who also caused death in Iraq, must be judged where they committed their crimes," he said. The Iraqi judiciary said earlier in May that it has tried and sentenced more than 500 suspected foreign members of IS since the start of 2018. Its courts have condemned many to live in prison and others to death, although no foreign IS members have yet been executed. The country remains in the top five "executioner" nations in the world, an Amnesty International report said in April.

France increases pressure on Iraq not to execute Islamic State convicts

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has described Tehran's threat to resume nuclear work -- in what would be a contravention of its commitments under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- as a "bad reaction", calling on Tehran to show "political maturity".

"Iran has had a bad reaction, faced with a bad US decision to withdraw from the Vienna agreements and impose sanctions," Le Drian said in an interview published online by Le Parisien, referring to the 2015 deal signed in Vienna.

"It is a pity that the United States is not honouring its commitments, Iran must show its political maturity," Le Drian added.

Iran announced earlier this month that it will stop respecting some limits on its nuclear activities imposed under the landmark 2015 deal.

The announcement came exactly a year after the US withdrew from the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with further measures threatened if the agreement's other signatories fail to mitigate the impact of renewed American sanctions within 60 days.

Le Drian also warned against a "bellicose spiral", stressing the "responsibility" of the Americans and the importance of dialogue with Tehran.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has described Tehran's threat to resume nuclear work -- in what would be a contravention of its commitments under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- as a "bad reaction", calling on Tehran to show "political maturity".

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has described Tehran's threat to resume nuclear work -- in what would be a contravention of its commitments under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- as a "bad reaction", calling on Tehran to show "political maturity". "Iran has had a bad reaction, faced with a bad US decision to withdraw from the Vienna agreements and impose sanctions," Le Drian said in an interview published online by Le Parisien, referring to the 2015 deal signed in Vienna. "It is a pity that the United States is not honouring its commitments, Iran must show its political maturity," Le Drian added. Iran announced earlier this month that it will stop respecting some limits on its nuclear activities imposed under the landmark 2015 deal. The announcement came exactly a year after the US withdrew from the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with further measures threatened if the agreement's other signatories fail to mitigate the impact of renewed American sanctions within 60 days. Le Drian also warned against a "bellicose spiral", stressing the "responsibility" of the Americans and the importance of dialogue with Tehran.

French FM urges Iran to show 'political maturity' over US nuclear deal pullout

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Saturday that it was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-says-premature-to-discuss-further-brexit-delay-208150">time for the Brexit crisis to end</a>, saying that it couldn't continue to dominate EU discussions.

"It's time that this situation ended," he told reporters on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in Dinard, northern France.

"We can't live constantly with Brexit. At some point, there needs to be a departure.''

"The British authorities and the British parliament need to understand that the European Union is not going to be able to constantly exhaust itself with the ups and downs of domestic British politics."&nbsp;

"The British need to tell us very quickly how they are going to get out of this crisis," he added.

France has sought to ramp up pressure on British Prime Minister Theresa May ahead of an emergency summit meeting of European leaders in Brussels from Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that her request for an extension of the deadline for Brexit would not automatically be accepted, meaning Britain could crash out of the bloc without a deal.&nbsp;

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Saturday that it was time for the Brexit crisis to end, saying that it couldn't continue to dominate EU discussions.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Saturday that it was time for the Brexit crisis to end, saying that it couldn't continue to dominate EU discussions. "It's time that this situation ended," he told reporters on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in Dinard, northern France. "We can't live constantly with Brexit. At some point, there needs to be a departure.'' "The British authorities and the British parliament need to understand that the European Union is not going to be able to constantly exhaust itself with the ups and downs of domestic British politics." "The British need to tell us very quickly how they are going to get out of this crisis," he added. France has sought to ramp up pressure on British Prime Minister Theresa May ahead of an emergency summit meeting of European leaders in Brussels from Wednesday. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that her request for an extension of the deadline for Brexit would not automatically be accepted, meaning Britain could crash out of the bloc without a deal.

France on Brexit: 'Time for this situation to end'

As the wait for Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's return to India from captivity in Pakistan came to an end on Friday, good wishes poured in from across the country and world.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres&nbsp;welcomed the Wing Commander&nbsp;and called on the two countries to sustain the "positive momentum" and engage in further constructive dialogue.

"UN chief Guterres welcomes the news of the release of the Indian pilot by Pakistani authorities," his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told news agency PTI.

The IAF Wing Commander returned to India from Pakistan on Friday to a hero's welcome, nearly 60 hours after he was captured following a dogfight when his MiG 21 was shot down.

In a statement French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian said, "I welcome the easing of tensions between India and Pakistan as well as the release of the Indian Air Force pilot detained in Pakistan."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;welcoming<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wing-commander-abhinandan-varthaman-returns-to-india-from-pakistan-200585">&nbsp;Abhinandan</a>'s return to India, said the nation is proud of his exemplary courage.

He also said the country's armed forces are an inspiration for the 130 crore Indians.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Twitter said, "Welcome Home! The entire nation is proud of Wing Commander Abhinandan."

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Welcome Home! The entire Nation is proud of Wing Commander Abhinandan.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1101515015599853568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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BJP national president Amit Shah too tweeted, "Dear Wing Commander Abhinandan, entire nation is proud of your courage and valour. India is glad to have you back. May you continue to serve the nation and IAF with unparalleled passion and dedication. Best wishes for your bright future."

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Dear Wing Commander Abhinandan, entire nation is proud of your courage and valour. 
 
India is glad to have you back. 
 
May you continue to serve the nation and IAF with unparalleled passion and dedication. Best wishes for your bright future.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1101512822171742209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also appreciated Abhinandan’s valour and grit. She tweeted, "Proud of you Wing Commander #Abhinandan Varthaman. The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth. Salute. Vande Mataram."

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Proud of you Wing Commander <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbhinandanVarthaman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AbhinandanVarthaman</a>. The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth. Salute. Vande Mataram.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) <a href="https://twitter.com/nsitharaman/status/1101518188649435137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Congress president Rahul Gandhi also expressed his happiness and also said that he is proud of the Air Force officer."Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, your dignity, poise, and bravery made us all proud. Welcome back and much love,"&nbsp;tweeted Gandhi.

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🇮🇳 Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, your dignity, poise and bravery made us all proud. Welcome back and much love. 🇮🇳
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1101513385722683392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

As the wait for Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's return to India from captivity in Pakistan came to an end on Friday, good wishes poured in from across the country and world.

As the wait for Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's return to India from captivity in Pakistan came to an end on Friday, good wishes poured in from across the country and world. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the Wing Commander and called on the two countries to sustain the "positive momentum" and engage in further constructive dialogue. "UN chief Guterres welcomes the news of the release of the Indian pilot by Pakistani authorities," his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told news agency PTI. The IAF Wing Commander returned to India from Pakistan on Friday to a hero's welcome, nearly 60 hours after he was captured following a dogfight when his MiG 21 was shot down. In a statement French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian said, "I welcome the easing of tensions between India and Pakistan as well as the release of the Indian Air Force pilot detained in Pakistan." Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming Abhinandan's return to India, said the nation is proud of his exemplary courage. He also said the country's armed forces are an inspiration for the 130 crore Indians. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Twitter said, "Welcome Home! The entire nation is proud of Wing Commander Abhinandan." Welcome Home! The entire Nation is proud of Wing Commander Abhinandan. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 1, 2019 × BJP national president Amit Shah too tweeted, "Dear Wing Commander Abhinandan, entire nation is proud of your courage and valour. India is glad to have you back. May you continue to serve the nation and IAF with unparalleled passion and dedication. Best wishes for your bright future." Dear Wing Commander Abhinandan, entire nation is proud of your courage and valour. India is glad to have you back. May you continue to serve the nation and IAF with unparalleled passion and dedication. Best wishes for your bright future. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 1, 2019 × Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also appreciated Abhinandan’s valour and grit. She tweeted, "Proud of you Wing Commander #Abhinandan Varthaman. The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth. Salute. Vande Mataram." Proud of you Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman. The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth. Salute. Vande Mataram. — Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 1, 2019 × Congress president Rahul Gandhi also expressed his happiness and also said that he is proud of the Air Force officer."Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, your dignity, poise, and bravery made us all proud. Welcome back and much love," tweeted Gandhi. 🇮🇳 Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, your dignity, poise and bravery made us all proud. Welcome back and much love. 🇮🇳 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 1, 2019 ×

Welcome wishes pour in for IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman after his return

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her France counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed a host of issues from counter-terror, cooperation in Africa to increasing people to people ties.&nbsp;

The French Foreign minister is on a two-day visit to India.&nbsp;

The two ministers also issued a joint press statement in which French Foreign minister said his meeting with India's external affairs minister was marked by a "great convergence of views and shared ambition".&nbsp;

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20 years of a dynamic and multi-faceted strategic partnership! 
 
EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushmaSwaraj</a> welcomed Foreign Minister of France <a href="https://twitter.com/JY_LeDrian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JY_LeDrian</a> ahead of the delegation-level talks. This is their second bilateral meeting in six months continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges! <a href="https://t.co/pdQR8dlm0Y">pic.twitter.com/pdQR8dlm0Y</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1073817180423274496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"France and India are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year is not by chance. It's because we attach the same importance to multilateralism, respect for the rule of law, the same ambition to usher in a just and sustainable world," he said.&nbsp;

Exuding confidence in India France ties, Le Drian said, "India knows that in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count on in the future."

Sushma Swaraj said both India and France will take forward cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. Defence ties between both countries are deep and multifaceted.

Both India and France discussed counter terror with EAM Sushma saying "India and France have cooperation on counter-terror especially at FATF". French FM talked about the "shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark ten years since the deadly Mumbai attacks."

Both countries are also planning to launch joint projects in Africa. On people to people front, France plans to host 10,000 Indian students annually by 2020.

This is the second meeting between the External Affairs Minister and French foreign minister this year. They earlier met this year during EAM's visit to Paris. 
&nbsp; 
The French Foreign Minister also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

Earlier Le Drian visited Mumbai where he met Bollywood producers and conferred the French honour of Knight of the National Order of Merit on producer Ashok Amritraj.

French company Atos and India's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) signed MoU for developing supercomputers in India on the occasion.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her France counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed a host of issues from counter-terror, cooperation in Africa to increasing people to people ties.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her France counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed a host of issues from counter-terror, cooperation in Africa to increasing people to people ties. The French Foreign minister is on a two-day visit to India. The two ministers also issued a joint press statement in which French Foreign minister said his meeting with India's external affairs minister was marked by a "great convergence of views and shared ambition". 20 years of a dynamic and multi-faceted strategic partnership! EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomed Foreign Minister of France @JY_LeDrian ahead of the delegation-level talks. This is their second bilateral meeting in six months continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges! pic.twitter.com/pdQR8dlm0Y — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) December 15, 2018 × "France and India are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year is not by chance. It's because we attach the same importance to multilateralism, respect for the rule of law, the same ambition to usher in a just and sustainable world," he said. Exuding confidence in India France ties, Le Drian said, "India knows that in France it has a partner that has never failed it and on which it can count on in the future." Sushma Swaraj said both India and France will take forward cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. Defence ties between both countries are deep and multifaceted. Both India and France discussed counter terror with EAM Sushma saying "India and France have cooperation on counter-terror especially at FATF". French FM talked about the "shared commitment to fighting terrorism, as we mark ten years since the deadly Mumbai attacks." Both countries are also planning to launch joint projects in Africa. On people to people front, France plans to host 10,000 Indian students annually by 2020. This is the second meeting between the External Affairs Minister and French foreign minister this year. They earlier met this year during EAM's visit to Paris. The French Foreign Minister also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier Le Drian visited Mumbai where he met Bollywood producers and conferred the French honour of Knight of the National Order of Merit on producer Ashok Amritraj. French company Atos and India's Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) signed MoU for developing supercomputers in India on the occasion.

In France, India has a partner that has never failed it: French Foreign Minister

Bollywood and&nbsp;supercomputers are in focus as French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian begins his&nbsp;two-day visit to&nbsp;India from December 14 to 15.

During his visit, Drian will be visiting Delhi and Mumbai.&nbsp;

In Mumbai, he will be interacting with&nbsp;Bollywood producers Aashish Singh of Balaji Telefilms, Ashok Amritraj of Hyde park entertainment and Kabir khan of Kabir khan productions as France is keen on getting Bollywood on board.&nbsp;

Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor starrer Befikre movie was extensively shot in Paris.

"During the visit, Minister Le Drian will travel to Mumbai on 14 December where he will meet senior state government officials as well as interact with Indian and French personalities from the film, television and tourism industries. Minister Le Drian will also call on the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, &nbsp;Devendra Fadnavis," said a release from Ministry of External Affairs, India.

He will be in Delhi on 15 when he will hold delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.&nbsp;

"The two sides will review the broad gamut of the multi-faceted India-France bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," according to the MEA.

The French foreign minister will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India and France will also sign a contract for cooperation between Atos (a European IT services corporation with its headquarters in Bezons, France) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) for the development of supercomputers in India.

Indian Prime Minister met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of G20 summit in Argentina on 1 December.

The visit by French foreign minister comes a day after India and France held two round of talks on "Indo-French Dialogue on Africa".&nbsp;

The dialogue, according to MEA, is aimed to develop institutional, technical and cooperative synergies between India and France to identify developmental projects in Africa in accordance with the African priorities.

In the dialogue, India was represented by Dr Neena Malhotra, Joint Secretary (East&amp;Southern Africa) and France by Rémi Maréchaux, Head of the Africa Department of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.&nbsp;

The French delegation, accompanied by the French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler, also called on Secretary (Economic Relations), T.S. Tirumurti and exchanged views on the progress of the dialogue.

Bollywood and supercomputers are in focus as French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian begins his two-day visit to India from December 14 to 15. During his visit, Drian will be visiting Delhi and Mumbai.

Bollywood and supercomputers are in focus as French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian begins his two-day visit to India from December 14 to 15. During his visit, Drian will be visiting Delhi and Mumbai. In Mumbai, he will be interacting with Bollywood producers Aashish Singh of Balaji Telefilms, Ashok Amritraj of Hyde park entertainment and Kabir khan of Kabir khan productions as France is keen on getting Bollywood on board. Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor starrer Befikre movie was extensively shot in Paris. "During the visit, Minister Le Drian will travel to Mumbai on 14 December where he will meet senior state government officials as well as interact with Indian and French personalities from the film, television and tourism industries. Minister Le Drian will also call on the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis," said a release from Ministry of External Affairs, India. He will be in Delhi on 15 when he will hold delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "The two sides will review the broad gamut of the multi-faceted India-France bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," according to the MEA. The French foreign minister will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India and France will also sign a contract for cooperation between Atos (a European IT services corporation with its headquarters in Bezons, France) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) for the development of supercomputers in India. Indian Prime Minister met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of G20 summit in Argentina on 1 December. The visit by French foreign minister comes a day after India and France held two round of talks on "Indo-French Dialogue on Africa". The dialogue, according to MEA, is aimed to develop institutional, technical and cooperative synergies between India and France to identify developmental projects in Africa in accordance with the African priorities. In the dialogue, India was represented by Dr Neena Malhotra, Joint Secretary (East&Southern Africa) and France by Rémi Maréchaux, Head of the Africa Department of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The French delegation, accompanied by the French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler, also called on Secretary (Economic Relations), T.S. Tirumurti and exchanged views on the progress of the dialogue.

Bollywood, supercomputers in focus as French foreign minister's India visit begins from Friday

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said Donald Trump <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/frances-macron-to-make-important-announcements-in-coming-week-spokesman-182665">must not interfere in French politics</a>.&nbsp;

"We do not take domestic American politics into account and we want that to be reciprocated," AFP quoted Jean-Yves Le Drian as telling LCI television.&nbsp;

"Leave our nation be," he added.&nbsp;

Trump had tweeted after the Yellow Vest protests hit France.&nbsp;

Named after the fluorescent safety vests that French motorists must carry, the "yellow vest" protests erupted out of nowhere on Nov. 17, when nearly 300,000 demonstrators nationwide took to the streets to denounce high living costs and President Emmanuel Macron's liberal economic reforms.

Demonstrators say the reforms favour the wealthy and do nothing to help the poor and billed Saturday's protest "Act IV" of their protest after three consecutive Saturdays of rioting.

The government this week cancelled a planned rise in taxes on petrol and diesel in a bid to defuse the situation but the protests have morphed into a broader anti-Macron rebellion.&nbsp;

In his tweets, Trump had said the protests were a result of the Paris climate agreement of 2015.&nbsp;

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The Paris Agreement isn’t working out so well for Paris. Protests and riots all over France. People do not want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect the environment. Chanting “We Want Trump!” Love France.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1071382401954267136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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We want trump ? Seriously ? How delusional can you get ? NO ONE chants that here. The protests aren't even about the paris aggreement, they're about taxes in general
— Ludovic Gerbault (@IceFreak86) <a href="https://twitter.com/IceFreak86/status/1071395801925083136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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💬 Are "yellow vest" protesters chanting, "We want Trump" in Paris? 
❌ No, the video used to support the claim is from a protest in England in June 2018 <a href="https://t.co/XoLrltB2Xv">https://t.co/XoLrltB2Xv</a> <a href="https://t.co/hczUzi3DLX">pic.twitter.com/hczUzi3DLX</a>
— AFPFactCheck 🔎 (@AFPFactCheck) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFPFactCheck/status/1070084008598474752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/paris-protesters-chanting-we-want-trump-is-fake-news-but-he-retweets-it-181621">also retweeted the fake news</a> that the protesters in France had been chanting "We want Trump".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said Donald Trump must not interfere in French politics. "We do not take domestic American politics into account and we want that to be reciprocated," AFP quoted Jean-Yves Le Drian as telling LCI television.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said Donald Trump must not interfere in French politics. "We do not take domestic American politics into account and we want that to be reciprocated," AFP quoted Jean-Yves Le Drian as telling LCI television. "Leave our nation be," he added. Trump had tweeted after the Yellow Vest protests hit France. Named after the fluorescent safety vests that French motorists must carry, the "yellow vest" protests erupted out of nowhere on Nov. 17, when nearly 300,000 demonstrators nationwide took to the streets to denounce high living costs and President Emmanuel Macron's liberal economic reforms. Demonstrators say the reforms favour the wealthy and do nothing to help the poor and billed Saturday's protest "Act IV" of their protest after three consecutive Saturdays of rioting. The government this week cancelled a planned rise in taxes on petrol and diesel in a bid to defuse the situation but the protests have morphed into a broader anti-Macron rebellion. In his tweets, Trump had said the protests were a result of the Paris climate agreement of 2015. The Paris Agreement isn’t working out so well for Paris. Protests and riots all over France. People do not want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect the environment. Chanting “We Want Trump!” Love France. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2018 × We want trump ? Seriously ? How delusional can you get ? NO ONE chants that here. The protests aren't even about the paris aggreement, they're about taxes in general — Ludovic Gerbault (@IceFreak86) December 8, 2018 × 💬 Are "yellow vest" protesters chanting, "We want Trump" in Paris? ❌ No, the video used to support the claim is from a protest in England in June 2018 https://t.co/XoLrltB2Xv pic.twitter.com/hczUzi3DLX — AFPFactCheck 🔎 (@AFPFactCheck) December 4, 2018 × He had also retweeted the fake news that the protesters in France had been chanting "We want Trump". (With inputs from agencies)

France tells Trump to stop interfering in its politics

France's foreign minister warned on Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron was prepared to respond to US&nbsp;moves in the Middle East, marking a sharp departure from the warm relations on show during Macron's visit to Washington last month.

To date, Macron's best buddy approach to President Donald Trump has produced little practical influence on his policies.

"The situation in the Middle East is explosive, violence is doing the talking, war could loom," Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament on Tuesday, a day after the United States moved an embassy in Jerusalem and Israeli soldiers shot dead more than 50 Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border.

"The president of the republic has decided to take all necessary political initiatives" in response, Le Drian said, without providing specifics.

Britain's minister of state for the Middle East expressed similar exasperation with Washington, saying the Trump administration needed a greater understanding of the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Earlier, the French government spokesman defended Macron's efforts to build a close working relationship with Trump, despite the US&nbsp;president having gone against the French leader on almost all major issues so far.

Asked if Trump was still Macron's friend, Benjamin Griveaux, a close adviser to the French president, told BFM TV: "When you are the president of the republic, you are not the friend of foreign leaders, you are their partner, you have strategic alliances.

"France is attached to one thing -- multilateralism. We talk to everyone and we speak firmly and frankly to them, we don't mince our words," he added.

Since coming to power a year ago, Macron has not hidden his desire to build a familiar relationship with Trump.

Perfect

Weeks after he took office, he invited the US&nbsp;president to attend the annual Bastille Day celebrations, putting on a spectacular military parade for Trump.

During their first phone call, 71-year-old Trump gave the 40-year-old Frenchman his personal mobile phone number, and the two have spoken frequently since.

Last month, Macron and his wife Brigitte travelled to Washington for a state visit, the first Trump has hosted since he took office. Trump described Macron as "perfect" and the two made a show of giving each other warm hugs.

"He's a great guy, his wife is fantastic," Trump said of Macron in January. "I like him. He's a friend of mine."

Yet Macron has struggled to convert the 'bonhomie' into influence on critical issues.

Soon after Macron took office, Trump announced he was walking away from the Paris climate accord, a landmark international agreement to combat global warming.

In recent weeks, over the objection of Macron and other leaders, Trump has moved to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium imports, has withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal and moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, fuelling widespread Palestinian unrest.

Asked late last year whether Macron wasn't wasting his time buddying up to Trump, a close adviser to the French president said it was worth it.

"We don't know how much worse things might be if he wasn't building a close relationship," the official said.

Griveaux took a similar line, adding that Macron's efforts didn't mean he was giving in.

"Does it mean that we endorse or share the positions (of the US&nbsp;administration)?" he said. "The answer is no."

France's foreign minister warned on Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron was prepared to respond to US moves in the Middle East, marking a sharp departure from the warm relations on show during Macron's visit to Washington

France's foreign minister warned on Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron was prepared to respond to US moves in the Middle East, marking a sharp departure from the warm relations on show during Macron's visit to Washington last month. To date, Macron's best buddy approach to President Donald Trump has produced little practical influence on his policies. "The situation in the Middle East is explosive, violence is doing the talking, war could loom," Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament on Tuesday, a day after the United States moved an embassy in Jerusalem and Israeli soldiers shot dead more than 50 Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border. "The president of the republic has decided to take all necessary political initiatives" in response, Le Drian said, without providing specifics. Britain's minister of state for the Middle East expressed similar exasperation with Washington, saying the Trump administration needed a greater understanding of the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Earlier, the French government spokesman defended Macron's efforts to build a close working relationship with Trump, despite the US president having gone against the French leader on almost all major issues so far. Asked if Trump was still Macron's friend, Benjamin Griveaux, a close adviser to the French president, told BFM TV: "When you are the president of the republic, you are not the friend of foreign leaders, you are their partner, you have strategic alliances. "France is attached to one thing -- multilateralism. We talk to everyone and we speak firmly and frankly to them, we don't mince our words," he added. Since coming to power a year ago, Macron has not hidden his desire to build a familiar relationship with Trump. Perfect Weeks after he took office, he invited the US president to attend the annual Bastille Day celebrations, putting on a spectacular military parade for Trump. During their first phone call, 71-year-old Trump gave the 40-year-old Frenchman his personal mobile phone number, and the two have spoken frequently since. Last month, Macron and his wife Brigitte travelled to Washington for a state visit, the first Trump has hosted since he took office. Trump described Macron as "perfect" and the two made a show of giving each other warm hugs. "He's a great guy, his wife is fantastic," Trump said of Macron in January. "I like him. He's a friend of mine." Yet Macron has struggled to convert the 'bonhomie' into influence on critical issues. Soon after Macron took office, Trump announced he was walking away from the Paris climate accord, a landmark international agreement to combat global warming. In recent weeks, over the objection of Macron and other leaders, Trump has moved to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium imports, has withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal and moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, fuelling widespread Palestinian unrest. Asked late last year whether Macron wasn't wasting his time buddying up to Trump, a close adviser to the French president said it was worth it. "We don't know how much worse things might be if he wasn't building a close relationship," the official said. Griveaux took a similar line, adding that Macron's efforts didn't mean he was giving in. "Does it mean that we endorse or share the positions (of the US administration)?" he said. "The answer is no."

French at growing odds with US despite Macron's 'BFF' tactics on Trump

Eight children under the age of 16 were among the people died in Gaza border clash Palestinian envoy told United Nations on Monday.

Violent clashes erupted on Monday as the US officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem even tens of thousands of Palestinians demonstrated throughout the Gaza strip marking the bloodiest day in years since 2014 Gaza war.

According to a report by news agency AFP, 52 people have been killed in the clashes by Israeli forces. More than 2,400 were also reported to be wounded, the health ministry said.

Though the protests ended on the evening of the day, however, fresh protests are expected on Tuesday.

The Monday's Gaza violence received&nbsp;criticism from international media while world leaders&nbsp;urged to maintain peace.

British Prime Minister, Thersa May's spokesperson said,&nbsp;"We are concerned by the reports of violence and loss of life in Gaza. We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts," the spokesman said, adding that the embassy move was "unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region," AFP reported as saying.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also called all parties to "act responsibly to prevent a new flare-up" in an official statement.

The statement reads, "France calls again for Israeli authorities to act with caution and restraint in the use of force, which must be strictly proportional, adding, It stresses the duty to protect civilians, in particular minors, and Palestinians' right to protest peacefully."

Amid leaders around the world came forward and condemned the killings at Gaza, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also offered assurances of Washington's commitment to maintaining Middle East peace, however, he did not mention&nbsp;anything regarding the deadly violence.

"We remain committed to advancing a lasting and comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians," he said.

The protests at Gaza border began on March 30 as Palestinians marched towards Gaza border for what they called "The Great March of Return". These protests are continuing for the sixth week now.

Gathered in thousands of number, demonstrators are demanding access to their families' lost homes or lands which are now in Israel. Two-thirds of the two million Palestinians in Gaza are war refugees or their descendants.

Palestinians have accused Israeli forces of using tear gas and guns as they targeted protestors. However, Israel says its troops have used live ammunition to prevent a border fence from being damaged or breached.

The death toll has gained attention from worldwide media. Israeli forces were also criticised for using live ammunition at protestors. However, &nbsp;Israeli authorities accused Gaza's ruling Hamas movement of instigating violence.

52 people have been killed in the clashes by Israeli forces. More than 2,400 were also reported to be wounded, the health ministry said

Eight children under the age of 16 were among the people died in Gaza border clash Palestinian envoy told United Nations on Monday. Violent clashes erupted on Monday as the US officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem even tens of thousands of Palestinians demonstrated throughout the Gaza strip marking the bloodiest day in years since 2014 Gaza war. According to a report by news agency AFP, 52 people have been killed in the clashes by Israeli forces. More than 2,400 were also reported to be wounded, the health ministry said. Though the protests ended on the evening of the day, however, fresh protests are expected on Tuesday. The Monday's Gaza violence received criticism from international media while world leaders urged to maintain peace. British Prime Minister, Thersa May's spokesperson said, "We are concerned by the reports of violence and loss of life in Gaza. We urge calm and restraint to avoid actions destructive to peace efforts," the spokesman said, adding that the embassy move was "unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region," AFP reported as saying. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also called all parties to "act responsibly to prevent a new flare-up" in an official statement. The statement reads, "France calls again for Israeli authorities to act with caution and restraint in the use of force, which must be strictly proportional, adding, It stresses the duty to protect civilians, in particular minors, and Palestinians' right to protest peacefully." Amid leaders around the world came forward and condemned the killings at Gaza, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also offered assurances of Washington's commitment to maintaining Middle East peace, however, he did not mention anything regarding the deadly violence. "We remain committed to advancing a lasting and comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians," he said. The protests at Gaza border began on March 30 as Palestinians marched towards Gaza border for what they called "The Great March of Return". These protests are continuing for the sixth week now. Gathered in thousands of number, demonstrators are demanding access to their families' lost homes or lands which are now in Israel. Two-thirds of the two million Palestinians in Gaza are war refugees or their descendants. Palestinians have accused Israeli forces of using tear gas and guns as they targeted protestors. However, Israel says its troops have used live ammunition to prevent a border fence from being damaged or breached. The death toll has gained attention from worldwide media. Israeli forces were also criticised for using live ammunition at protestors. However, Israeli authorities accused Gaza's ruling Hamas movement of instigating violence.

Gaza unrest: Eight children among the dead in clashes; France, Britain urges to maintain peace

France on Thursday accused Iran of supplying weapons to Huthi rebels waging a three-year fight against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and rejected Tehran's denial.

"There is a problem in Yemen: it is that the political process has not begun, that Saudi Arabia feels regularly attacked by the Huthis, who are themselves supplied with arms by Iran," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio.

Iran has said it supports the Huthis' cause in Yemen but has repeatedly denied arming them, despite claims by the United States and Saudi Arabia of evidence of weapon shipments.

Le Drian's comments come just days before an official visit to France by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has threatened Iran with retaliation after Huthi rebels fired seven missiles into Saudia Arabia last weekend.

Riyadh said Iran supplied the missiles which struck the capital as well as three cities close to the Yemeni border, killing one person and injuring two.

On Tuesday Iran's Revolutionary Guards rejected the accusation, saying it would be impossible to get them through the blockade imposed against Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition.

Le Drian's bolstering of Riyadh's claims could strain ties between Iran and France ahead of an expected visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Tehran in the coming months, the first by a French head of state or government since 1976.

France has resisted international pressure to stop supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of the main players in the coalition which supports Yemen's pro-government forces.&nbsp;

Amnesty International last week said the shipments by France, along with the US and Britain, had contributed to the deaths of thousands of civilians in attacks by coalition forces.

But Le Drian insisted Thursday that the weapon sales complied with international law.

"We have a very rigorous framework on weapon exports which we adhere to with great vigilance," he said.

Stepping up pressure

The conflict in Yemen, which has killed an estimated 10,000 people, comes as Iran is under increasing pressure over its role in several Middle East conflicts.

Le Drian visited Tehran in early March to lay the groundwork for Macron's coming visit, and to discuss the landmark 2015 deal with international powers that curtailed Iran's nuclear programme.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from the deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran when it next comes up for renewal by the American president in May.

Although Macron along with other European leaders has made no secret of his desire to secure the deal, he has repeatedly criticised Tehran's ballistic missile programme.

He has also called on Tehran to rein in the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad after weeks of assaults by his forces against rebels in Eastern Ghouta, which has prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes.

Iran and Russia are Bashar's main backers in his war against a rebellion launched in 2011.

Le Drian said Thursday that Macron was still planning to visit Russia in May "for the time being", despite rapidly deteriorating relations between Moscow and the West over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain.

"We want a frank discussion with Moscow, a demanding one without any ambiguity, to ask Moscow to respect international law," he said.

France on Thursday accused Iran of supplying weapons to Huthi rebels waging a three-year fight against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and rejected Tehran's denial

France on Thursday accused Iran of supplying weapons to Huthi rebels waging a three-year fight against a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and rejected Tehran's denial. "There is a problem in Yemen: it is that the political process has not begun, that Saudi Arabia feels regularly attacked by the Huthis, who are themselves supplied with arms by Iran," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio. Iran has said it supports the Huthis' cause in Yemen but has repeatedly denied arming them, despite claims by the United States and Saudi Arabia of evidence of weapon shipments. Le Drian's comments come just days before an official visit to France by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has threatened Iran with retaliation after Huthi rebels fired seven missiles into Saudia Arabia last weekend. Riyadh said Iran supplied the missiles which struck the capital as well as three cities close to the Yemeni border, killing one person and injuring two. On Tuesday Iran's Revolutionary Guards rejected the accusation, saying it would be impossible to get them through the blockade imposed against Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition. Le Drian's bolstering of Riyadh's claims could strain ties between Iran and France ahead of an expected visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Tehran in the coming months, the first by a French head of state or government since 1976. France has resisted international pressure to stop supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of the main players in the coalition which supports Yemen's pro-government forces. Amnesty International last week said the shipments by France, along with the US and Britain, had contributed to the deaths of thousands of civilians in attacks by coalition forces. But Le Drian insisted Thursday that the weapon sales complied with international law. "We have a very rigorous framework on weapon exports which we adhere to with great vigilance," he said. Stepping up pressure The conflict in Yemen, which has killed an estimated 10,000 people, comes as Iran is under increasing pressure over its role in several Middle East conflicts. Le Drian visited Tehran in early March to lay the groundwork for Macron's coming visit, and to discuss the landmark 2015 deal with international powers that curtailed Iran's nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump has threatened to walk away from the deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran when it next comes up for renewal by the American president in May. Although Macron along with other European leaders has made no secret of his desire to secure the deal, he has repeatedly criticised Tehran's ballistic missile programme. He has also called on Tehran to rein in the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad after weeks of assaults by his forces against rebels in Eastern Ghouta, which has prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Iran and Russia are Bashar's main backers in his war against a rebellion launched in 2011. Le Drian said Thursday that Macron was still planning to visit Russia in May "for the time being", despite rapidly deteriorating relations between Moscow and the West over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain. "We want a frank discussion with Moscow, a demanding one without any ambiguity, to ask Moscow to respect international law," he said.

France accuses Iran of arming Yemen's Huthi rebels

Japan&#39;s businesses must realise Britain&#39;s membership of the European Union is &quot;over,&quot; French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said today, while touting France as an attractive post-Brexit alternative.

&quot;The message is clear for us: firstly, the presence of Britain in the European Union is over,&quot; he said describing his discussions with local business leaders during a four-day trip to Japan.

&quot;I felt that there were maybe some voices saying &#39;perhaps it...&#39; No! It&#39;s over,&quot; he added, encouraging Japanese companies to face the reality of Britain&#39;s departure from the EU.

&quot;In March 2019, it will be the end,&quot; he said at a conference on the last day of his trip.

Japanese banks were among the first to react to Britain&#39;s June 2016 referendum decision to leave the EU, with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group saying in 2017 it would create a subsidiary in Frankfurt in preparation for Brexit.

But Japanese companies present in Britain have been more cautious about publicly announcing similar Brexit plans, despite the efforts of other European countries to woo those looking for alternatives.

"The message is clear for us: firstly, the presence of Britain in the European Union is over," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said

Japan's businesses must realise Britain's membership of the European Union is "over," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said today, while touting France as an attractive post-Brexit alternative. "The message is clear for us: firstly, the presence of Britain in the European Union is over," he said describing his discussions with local business leaders during a four-day trip to Japan. "I felt that there were maybe some voices saying 'perhaps it...' No! It's over," he added, encouraging Japanese companies to face the reality of Britain's departure from the EU. "In March 2019, it will be the end," he said at a conference on the last day of his trip. Japanese banks were among the first to react to Britain's June 2016 referendum decision to leave the EU, with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group saying in 2017 it would create a subsidiary in Frankfurt in preparation for Brexit. But Japanese companies present in Britain have been more cautious about publicly announcing similar Brexit plans, despite the efforts of other European countries to woo those looking for alternatives.

Britain's EU days are 'over', French FM tells Japan firms