France has joined a number of European leaders in expressing concern following US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities early Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron has urged Tehran to resume diplomatic talks and will hold a defence council meeting later today.
Together with European partners, France has advocated a diplomatic solution in a bid to end the conflict between Israel and Iran which began with Israel launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on 13 June.
"France has taken note with concern of the strikes carried out last night by the United States of America against three sites of Iran's nuclear programme," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X on Sunday.
He said that France did not take part in planning the strikes.
Barrot added that France was urging "all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict".
'Return to negotiating table'
The French presidency said Macron would convene a meeting of the defence and national security council later on Sunday.
The president urged Tehran to resume diplomatic talks in a conversation with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday.
That followed earlier talks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and the leader of Oman. The president "intends to continue his contacts with European partners and leaders in the region in the coming hours", Macron's office said.
The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has urged all sides to return to the negotiating table. “Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” she said in a statement, adding that the EU’s foreign ministers would discuss the situation on Monday.
Antonio Costa, head of the European Council, went further.
"Deeply alarmed by the news arriving from the Middle East. I call on all parties to show restraint and respect for international law and nuclear safety. Diplomacy remains the only way to bring peace and security to the Middle East region," he wrote on X.
"Too many civilians will once again be the victims of a further escalation."
Macron had said Saturday that France and its European partners planned to step up talks with Iran.
On Friday, British, French, German and EU diplomats held talks in Geneva with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, urging Tehran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States to find a solution in the standoff over its nuclear programme.
"France has repeatedly expressed its very firm opposition to Iran's access to nuclear weapons," Barrot said.
"France is convinced that a lasting settlement of this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."
Family of French couple jailed in Iran pleads for humanitarian evacuation
France is also concerned over the fate of two French citizens – Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris – who are currently held hostage in Iran. They have been detained since May 2022 on espionage charges their families reject.
France views their detentions as politically motivated hostage-taking. In Sunday's phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Macron once again called for their release.
