In response to President Rouhani’s recent comments, the French foreign ministry warned him that violating the JCPOA (nuclear deal) will escalate the tensions in the region.

In response to a question about President Rouhani’s comments earlier on Wednesday, saying if the countries remaining in the deal do not comply with their commitments, Tehran will begin higher-grade enrichment after July 7, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry of France said the foreign minister of France spoke with his British and German counterparts and the head of EU foreign policy yesterday.

He continued: “I refer you to their joint statement. Iran will not gain anything by leaving the Vienna accord. Violating the accord will only lead to the escalation of tensions that currently exist. That is why France, along with its European partners, has decisively asked Iran to reverse its decision and avoid any other steps to violate its commitments to the deal.”

Regarding the EU-Iran trade mechanism known as INSTEX, he said: “France and its European partners will do their best so that Iran would enjoy the economic benefits of the Vienna agreement. INSTEX was created to facilitate financial transfer and trade between Iran and Europe, if Iran remains faithful to its commitments.”

Earlier on Wednesday, President Rouhani stated that INSTEX is “empty and there is nothing in it”, and said: “We will increase our uranium enrichment by any amount that we need.”