Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel MacronReuters

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed that Iran would never succeed in developing nuclear weapons during a joint meeting of Congress Wednesday.

"Our objective is clear," Macron told the assembled Congressmen and Senators. “Iran shall never possess any nuclear weapons. Not now. Not in five years. Not in 10 years. Never."

The French president said that France would continue to pursue a "comprehensive" deal that addresses all concerns over Iran's nuclear program and its aggressive behavior, regardless of whether the Trump Administration decides to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"This agreement (the JCPOA) may not address all concerns – and very important concerns – this is true," Macron said. "But we should not abandon it without having something substantial, and more substantial, instead. That's my position."

"France will not leave the JCPOA – because we signed it," he added. "What I want to do, and what we decided together with your president, is that we can work on a more comprehensive deal addressing all these concerns."

On Tuesday, Macron met with US President Donald Trump. During their meeting, the French President outlined a "Four Pillared" agreement that would keep the JCPOA in place while also addressing the remaining concerns over Iran's nuclear work, its ongoing ballistic missile program, and its military adventurism in the Middle East.

President Trump has until May 12 to decide whether to remain in the JCPOA or to withdraw from the agreement. On Tuesday he stated that "nobody knows" what he is going to do on May 12.