French President Emmanuel Macron said he was convinced that the United States decision will benefit Russian and Chinese companies in Iran.
He added that his country will not get into a trade war against the US over Iran, despite France’s disapproval of President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal.
"We’re not going to choose one camp over another. We’re not going to be the allies of Iran against the United States of America," Macron said in a news conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Commenting on the decision of French oil and gas group Total to stop a multibillion-dollar project in Iran unless it is granted a waiver by U.S. authorities, Macron said he wants to provide all guarantees for businesses that want to stay in Iran to be able to do so.
"We’re not going to impose on French businesses to stay in Iran. The President of the French Republic in not the CEO of Total," the AP cited him as saying.
