French leader urges Iranian counterpart to return to talks amid rising tensions

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he had a phone talk with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian and urged him to re-engage in dialogue amid growing regional tensions.

“I have just spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian. My first message was to demand the immediate release of our compatriots, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been held hostages by the Iranian regime in unacceptable conditions for over three years, Caliber.Az reports, citing Macron’s message on X.

“In light of the serious risk of destabilization across the region, I called for our diplomatic facilities and nationals in Iran and the wider region not to be targeted under any circumstances. I also urged the utmost restraint to avoid escalation. Iran’s nuclear program is a serious concern and must be resolved through negotiation. I therefore invited President Pezeshkian to return swiftly to the negotiating table to reach an agreement — the only viable path to de-escalation. We stand ready to contribute and to mobilize all our efforts to achieve that goal,” he wrote.

To recall, on June 13, Israel launched a large-scale airstrike targeting over 100 sites across Iran, including key nuclear and missile facilities in Tehran, Natanz, Ahvaz, and East Azerbaijan Province. The operation involved around 200 aircraft and more than 330 precision-guided munitions, aiming to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons development and eliminate senior IRGC commanders and scientists.

Israeli leaders described the strikes as a preemptive move against existential threats from Iran. Tehran blamed Israel and the US for the attack and vowed strong retaliation, launching over 100 drones towards Israel and closing its airspace.

By Naila Huseynova