Iran’s nuclear program is nearing the ‘point of no return,’ French President Emmanuel Macron is now warning.
Iran is the top ‘strategic and security challenge’ for France and Europe this year, Macron said this week during an annual foreign policy conference with French ambassadors, according to Reuters.
‘The acceleration of the nuclear program leads us nearly to the point of no return,’ the French leader was quoted as saying.
‘In the coming months we will have to ask ourselves whether to use… the mechanism to restore sanctions,’ Macron added.
The comments come after International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi told Reuters in December that Iran is enriching uranium close to the 90% level required for weapons grade.
French, German and British diplomats are now set to meet their Iranian counterparts on Jan. 13 in an effort to defuse tensions, according to Reuters.
Iran has argued that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Axios recently reported that in a top meeting with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan roughly a month ago, President Biden was presented with a series of strike options should Iran make a move to develop a nuclear weapon.
Biden has vowed not to let Iran develop a nuclear weapon on his watch, but it remains unclear what steps Iran would have to take in order for the Biden administration to respond with direct hits, given that Tehran has already been reported to have stockpiled near-weapons-grade uranium and to be bolstering its weaponization capabilities.
The president was reportedly presented with a series of scenarios and response options during the meeting, though sources told the outlet that Biden has not made any final decisions regarding the information he was given.
Another source reportedly told Axios there currently are no active discussions on militarily hitting Iran’s program.
Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.