Macron calls Iran, Israel to return to negotiations: "Nothing justifies strikes on civilians"

French President Emmanuel Macron on June 20 called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Middle East, urging all parties to prioritise diplomacy over military escalation as tensions continue to rise in the region.

“Nothing justifies the strikes on civil infrastructure or civilian populations. Absolutely nothing,” Macron stated during remarks at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Macron warned that continued attacks, particularly on energy and civilian sites, risk further escalation and destabilisation.

“We must all be extremely vigilant, serious, and get back around the negotiating table,” he said.

The French president also reaffirmed France’s long-standing position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, recalling the country’s role in negotiating the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“No one should underestimate the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran,” he said.

Macron emphasised that military action alone would not resolve the nuclear issue, noting the technical complexity and uncertainty surrounding Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.

 “There are extremely protected facilities, and no one can definitively say where the 65% of the enriched uranium is,” he explained.  “This is why technical expertise and negotiations are essential.”

He reiterated France’s unwavering support for Israel’s security, while also cautioning against the targeting of civilian infrastructure.

“Israel’s security is a strategic issue for France, and Iran remains an existential threat to Israel. But that does not justify continued strikes against civilian infrastructure and populations,” Macron stressed.

The president announced plans to speak soon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further destabilisation.

He concluded by confirming that a debate would soon be held in the French parliament under Article 50, followed by consultations with political parties on the situations in Iran, Gaza, and Ukraine, after the upcoming NATO Summit.

By Sabina Mammadli