A diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron held talks in Tehran Wednesday (July 10th) aimed at saving the 2015 nuclear deal and easing tensions between Iran and the US, AFP reported.
Emmanuel Bonne met Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and was slated to meet with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later Wednesday.
Bonnes aims "to try and open the discussion space to avoid an uncontrolled escalation, or even an accident", French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.
The European parties to the deal, along with the EU's diplomatic chief, on Tuesday called on Tehran to reverse breaches of the agreement.
The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed April 2nd, 2015, with China, Russia, France, Britain, Germany and the US, which unilaterally withdrew from the deal last year.
On Saturday, Macron held an hour-long conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in which he said he wanted to "explore the conditions for a resumption of dialogue between all parties".
The White House confirmed that Macron and US President Donald Trump had discussed the standoff.
While pointblank refusing any talks with the Trump administration, Iran has been receptive to French diplomacy.
"We welcome their activities because the French are a part of the JCPOA and we consider their efforts as part of their duty" to keep the agreement alive, said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi, quoted by the IRNA news agency.
