France warned Thursday that sanctions on Iran "can be re-imposed" if a deal over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme is not applied and that "work remained to be done."
"Sanctions that are lifted can be re-imposed if the deal is not applied," the office of President Francois Hollande said in a statement, adding that Paris would watch closely to ensure a "credible" and "verifiable" final agreement that prevents Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius struck a cautious tone, saying the agreement clinched after marathon talks was "positive" but stressing "there is still work to do."
"Now, possibly, we are at the start of a new process. We're trying to proceed but we're not yet at the end of the road," Fabius told French television.
The comments came after Iran and world powers agreed on the framework of a potentially historic deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear drive.
The deal marked a major breakthrough in a 12-year standoff between Iran and the West, which has long feared Tehran wants to build a nuclear bomb.
"The president of the Republic ... hails the work achieved by the foreign ministers and their commitment throughout the process as well as the bases of the accord that have been found," Hollande's office said.