France's President, Emmanuel Macron, emerged from a meeting with top politicians and advisors to reiterate his call for a resumption of talks to stop the conflict between Israel, Iran and the United States.
"No strictly military response can produce the desired effects," Macron said as he convened defence and national security chiefs at the Elysée Palace in Paris.
"The resumption of diplomatic and technical discussions is the only way to achieve the goal we all seek, which is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but also to prevent an uncontrolled escalation in the region."
Macron is scheduled to travel to Norway later on Monday and is expected to return to Paris on Tuesday to chair a fourth meeting of the defence council.
"It will assess all the measures taken and the search for a diplomatic path to ensure control of Iran's nuclear and ballistic programme," said a presidential spokesperson.
France expresses concern, urges restraint, over US strikes on Iran
Macron is then due to go to the Netherlands for a Nato summit, which US President, Donald Trump, is also expected to attend.
Trump claimed to have devastated Tehran's nuclear programme by bombing its three main sites on Sunday after joining the offensive launched by Israel on 13 June.
On Sunday, Macron telephoned several counterparts in the Middle East and in Europe.
He said on social media that he had urged President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran to calm the situation with Israel and the United States.
"I called for de-escalation and for Iran to exercise the utmost restraint in this dangerous context in order to allow a return to diplomacy," Macron said.
"Dialogue, a clear commitment by Iran to renounce nuclear weapons, or the risk of the worst for the entire region. This is the only path that leads to peace and security for all."
Macron said he had also called on Pezeshkian to release two French nationals held in Tehran on spying charges.
Cécile Kohler, 40, and Jacques Paris, who is in his seventies, were arrested on 7 May 2022 at the end of a tourist trip to Iran. They are being held in section 209 of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, an area reserved for political prisoners.
French authorities have condemned the couple's arrest and detention, describing them as state hostages.
Family of French couple jailed in Iran pleads for humanitarian evacuation
Last Friday, the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany held talks with their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghtchi in Geneva. Trump dismissed the relevance of meeting hours before ordering the strikes on Iran.
In a joint statement with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Macron also urged Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region in response to the US strikes.
"We call on Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns related to its nuclear programme. We are ready to contribute to this goal in coordination with all parties,’ said the three European leaders.
