The United States and France warned Iran Friday that time was running out to return to the nuclear deal, and expressed concern that Tehran's sensitive atomic activities could develop if negotiations dragged on.

Tehran responded, arguing that the other parties must take decisions, stressing that it has never withdrawn from the international agreement on its nuclear program.

During the first high-level visit of the Biden administration to Paris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his French hosts hailed a new spirit of cooperation after four years of tension under former President Donald Trump.

But the two sides said that one of Biden's main promises, a return to the 2015 agreement, faces difficulties if the Iranian authorities do not make concessions during talks in Vienna for months.

Blinken said the United States still had "serious differences" with Iran.

Blinken stressed during a press conference that "there will come a moment when it will be very difficult to return to the standards in force in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," using the official name of the international agreement on the Iranian nuclear deal.

"We haven't reached that moment yet, I can't put a date on it, but it's an issue we are aware of," he added.

Blinken warned that if Iran continued to "run more advanced centrifuges" and speed up uranium enrichment, it would bring the time at which it would be dangerously close to having the ability to develop a nuclear bomb.

But Blinken said Biden still supported a return to the deal, under which Iran drastically reduced its nuclear activities until Trump pulled out of it in 2018 and imposed tough sanctions.

"We have a national interest in seeking to return the nuclear problem to where it was set by the JCPOA," Blinken said.

-Procrastination strategy?-

France, along with Britain, Germany, Russia and China, remained in the 2015 deal, despite pressure from Trump. In turn, it escalated pressure on Iran to move forward.

"We are waiting for the Iranian authorities to take the last, and probably difficult, decisions that will allow the negotiations to be concluded," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said during a joint press conference with Blinken.

In response to the US and French ministers, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement, "The other parties must make decisions," in response to the call by French Foreign Ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian and the United States, Anthony Blinken, for Tehran to take "difficult" decisions without any delay. to save the deal.

The spokesman stressed that "the Islamic Republic has not withdrawn at all" from the agreement, but rather "the United States must take the decision to return to it and lift the illegal US sanctions" against Iran.

The negotiations dragged on, in part due to Iran's insistence on lifting all sanctions, citing promises of economic aid under the agreement.

The Biden administration says it is ready to cancel the economic measures related to nuclear activities stipulated in the nuclear deal, but confirms that it will maintain other sanctions, including those related to human rights and Iran's support for armed groups in Arab countries.

Some experts believe that Iran was waiting for a victory for Raisi, whose hard-line approach is backed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters related to foreign policy.

Analysts said Iran could reach a deal before Raisi takes office in August, allowing him to take credit for the expected economic recovery, but blame outgoing President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who supports a better relationship with the West, should the situation deteriorate.

- Welcome to your country -

Blinken, who grew up in Paris, saluted the alliance with France, and used fluent French in his remarks in stark contrast to the sometimes acrimonious "America First" rhetoric of the Trump administration.

"Dear Tony, I am very pleased to welcome you to Paris," said Le Drian, upon receiving Blinken in the majestic hall of the State Department.

He added, "Your visit to Paris was expected because you are in your country here. Rather, I am inclined to say welcome to your country.”

Blinken later met with the French president at the Elysee, reiterating the United States' support for France in its response to militants in the Sahel region.

Blinken is on a European tour that has taken him to Germany and will continue to Italy, shortly after Biden's visit to the continent.
The administration seeks to consolidate relations with Europe in the face of the growing challenges to China, whose influence is rising, and Russia, whose power is increasing.

On issues of strategic importance to the French, Blinken promised to unite in confronting extremism in the Sahel region, and with a united front over Lebanon, which is mired in two economic and political crises.

Regarding Lebanon, Le Drian said, "We decided to move together to put pressure on the officials. We know who they are."

"We want to see real leadership in Beirut," Blinken added.