New York, Dhu-AlHijjah 27, 1438, Sep 18, 2017, SPA -- France on Monday gave a staunch defense of the Iran nuclear deal, saying there could be talks to strengthen the agreement from 2025 but that allowing it to collapse could lead Iran's neighbors to seek atomic weapons, Reuters reported. "It is essential to maintain it to avoid proliferation. In this period when we see the risks with North Korea, we must maintain this line," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters. "Even if we could complement the accord for after 2025." -- SPA 16:31 LOCAL TIME 13:31 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w490211