Iran - Q&A (23 May 2025)

Q : You said yesterday that States that have not recognized Israel need to begin moving toward normalization. What do you mean by moving toward normalization? What would be a sign of such a movement?

R : With respect to normalization, the aim is to establish diplomatic relations with the State of Israel, as several countries in the region have done under the Abraham Accords. But that rapprochement can manifest in different ways: initial contacts, including informal ones, particularly with Israeli civil society groups working toward the two-State solution; the recognition of Israel within its internationally recognized 1967 borders; or commitments to contribute to the security of Israel and its neighbors. Let’s be clear: you can’t support the two-State solution while at the same time denying Israel’s right to exist. What we’re seeing today is that a certain number of States would be prepared to do so if the situation on the ground were to change and the Israeli government’s policy were to give peace a chance.

Q : Do you think that the idea of zero enrichment in Iran is a realistic parameter for a nuclear agreement?

R : What we want is to prevent Iran from one day having a nuclear bomb. France and its German and British partners are working hard to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian proliferation crisis. We and our E3 partners, in coordination with the United States, remain determined to seek a robust negotiated solution before the October 18 deadline defined by UN Security Council resolution 2231 that would permanently prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.