TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian atomic official on Sunday discouraged France from following the pace of the United States over Iran's 2015 international nuclear deal and missile program.
"France has tried to side with the United States in recent years" but, it will have a hard time if it chooses to side with U.S. interests and stand against Iran, said spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi.
Besides, France would not succeed in creating a "coalition" among the European countries against Iran's defense power, Kamalvandi was quoted as saying by Iran Daily.
Kamalvandi also undermined the likelihood of reapplying sanctions by the United States against Iran over its missile program.
"The Islamic Republic will never agree to negotiations over its missile program," he added.
The U.S. President Donal Trump has criticized a deal sealed between Iran and the world powers in 2015 which put an end to the country's controversial nuclear program. He has urged negotiations on some parts of the deal.
Pushed by the U.S., Europe has stepped up its pressure on Iran to start negotiations on the country's developing missile program.
Iran has reiterated that its military forces will continue boosting the country's defense capabilities and deterrent power.
