Emmanuel Macron plays peacemaker on Iran, but will he get anywhere?

The French president suggested a stronger nuclear deal could be tied to sanctions relief

Emmanuel Macron laid out what he said were the conditions for reducing tensions with Iran and said Tehran's ballistic missile programme, which was unchecked in the 2015 nuclear deal, needs to be tackled. BloombergShow less

For more than a month Emmanuel Macron has played peacemaker between Iran and the United States, trying to persuade them into negotiations.

On Wednesday the French leader seemed to be running out of time.

Having met presidents Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani separately at the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Macron said there was a need for “responsible action” to reduce tension that flared this summer after tankers were attacked in the Arabian Gulf, a US drone was shot down and, on September 14, Saudi Aramco oil facilities were attacked.

But will he get anywhere?

The crisis could result in military conflict. A solution relies on flexibility from both sides.

Mr Macron, echoing a long-held European position, reiterated that he “never believed” that Mr Trump's “maximum pressure” campaign of economic sanctions on Iran was going to yield the results the US administration wanted after leaving the 2015 nuclear deal.

But seeking to stay in the middle of the dispute he also said Iran's ballistic missile programme, unchecked in the agreement, had to be tackled.

“I am not naive and I don't believe in miracles but rather in the courage to make peace, and I believe that the United States, Iran and all signatories of this accord have that courage,” Mr Macron said in his address to the General Assembly.

His proposal involves three major steps. Firstly, the existing nuclear deal must be broadened to include Iran's ballistic missiles. Secondly, there must be a regional security agreement in the Gulf. And thirdly there must be lifting of economic sanctions.

Iran has said sanctions relief is needed before talks involving the US can start. Mr Trump said on Tuesday there would be no such immediate step.

The Iranian demand, reiterated by Mr Rouhani on Wednesday, was described as unrealistic by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who also met the Iranian president and Mr Trump.

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  US President Donald Trump speaks during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Bloomberg

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  US President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 24, 2019. Reuters

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  US President Donald Trump is shown on a monitor during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2019 in New York. AFP

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  Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs walks through the hallway during the general debate of the 74th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations at United Nations Headquarters in New York, New York, USA. The annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations runs until 30 September 2019. EPA

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  French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks with his delegation during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. AFP

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  US Vice-President Mike Pence arrives for the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. AP Photo

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  Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea speaks during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. AFP

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  King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan speaks at the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly in New York City. World leaders are gathered for the 74th session of the UN amid a warning by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his address yesterday of the looming risk of a world splitting between the two largest economies - the U.S. and China. Getty Images

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  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. AP Photo

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  French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S. Reuters

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  French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. AFP

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  Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's president, speaks during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, U.S. Erdogan used his speech to reinforce his image as a champion of the underdog -- and particularly of Muslims he says are being oppressed. Bloomberg

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  President Donald Trump meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. AP Photo

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  President Hassan Rouhani, right, shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. AP

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  Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha talks with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the start of an annual luncheon for heads of state on the sidelines the general debate of the 74th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. EPA

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  President Hassan Rouhani, right, meets Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, on the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters. AP

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  President Hassan Rouhani, right, meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, on the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations. AP

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  US President Donald Trump and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talk at the start of an annual luncheon for heads of state on the sidelines the general debate of the 74th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. EPA

And while attention has revolved around whether Mr Rouhani and US president would meet at the UN, other leaders revealed they had also become involved in mediation between the US and Iran.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan told reporters that both Mr Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had asked him to talk with Iranian officials.

“Trump asked me that if we could de-escalate the situation and maybe come up with another deal,” Mr Khan said, though the US leader suggested it was the former cricketer who asked to mediate.

But the talk has become a runaround. So far no action has been forthcoming. And without reciprocal gestures Iran and the US will become further boxed in by their hard bargaining positions.