The centrist said scrapping the nuclear deal would be a mistake, and offered to mediate between the US and Iran, whose leaders are feuding over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The French President said the Iran nuclear deal “was not enough” in light of Tehran’s increased influence in the region and unwavering determination to press ahead with ballistic missile tests.
Mr Macron, who has gained the international community’s respect for his unbending stance on aspiring nuclear powers, including Iran and North Korea, added that it would be an error to scrap the landmark deal.
Mr Macron told reporters in New York on the sidelines of the UN general assembly: “Is this agreement enough? No. It is not, given the evolution of the regional situation and increasing pressure that Iran is exerting on the region, and given the increased activity by Iran on the ballistic level since the accord.”
Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions in a deal signed by France, Britain, China, Germany, Russia, the US and Iran in July 2015.
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The 39-year-old centrist also floated the possibility of imposing sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile programme, adding talks on what is to happen after the limitations to the accord begin to be lifted in 2025 should be held “immediately,” as should a discussion on the role of Iran in the region.
He said: “Let’s be honest, tensions are on the rise, look at the activities of Hezbollah and Iran’s pressure on Syria. We need a clear framework to be able to reassure regional countries and the United States.”
Mr Macron then offered to act as a “mediator” between the US and Iran, whose leaders Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani have oft-times accused each other of violating the “spirit” of the nuclear agreement.
Mr Macron added he had not given up convincing Mr Trump – who has threatened to scrap the “worst ever” nuclear deal – to change his mind and stay in the agreement.
The French President added he believed that he had nevertheless been successful in convincing his American counterpart to allow France and the United Nations to play a mediation role between Tehran and Washington with regards to the situation in Syria, where Iran has been the Syrian government’s core backer.
Mr Macron said: “The United Nations Secretary General and France will play the role of mediator for Iran so that we have a parallel negotiation, but that will enable us to include Iran in the process.”
It comes as tensions between the United States and North Korea escalate as Pyongyang continues to build up its nuclear arsenal.
Kim Jong-un’s repeated missile tests and recent hydrogen bomb experiment have sparked worldwide condemnation.