French President Emmanuel Macron held a conversation with his Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezeshkian – he reported about it on 14 June.
He said he first called on the Iranian president to release imprisoned French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Parry, who have been “held hostage in unacceptable conditions by the Iranian regime for more than three years”.
He also warned against attacks on diplomatic establishments and French citizens in Iran and the wider region amid the heightened security situation in the Middle East.
“I also called for maximum restraint to avoid escalation. Iran’s nuclear programme is a serious concern and must be resolved through negotiations. I have therefore invited President Pezeshkian to return quickly to the negotiating table to reach an agreement, the only viable path to de-escalation,” Macron said.
The French President added that Paris is ready to contribute and “mobilise all our efforts to achieve this goal”.
According to the Iranian president’s press office, Pezeshkian said in his conversation with Macron that Tehran “has always preferred the diplomatic way of resolving issues” but it is a mistake to imagine that the Iranian side will sit at the negotiating table “while the Zionist regime continues its attacks.”
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas had earlier held a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, after which she said that “the risk of further escalation in the region is dangerously high.”
On the night of 13 June, Israel launched an attack on Iran. Israeli aircraft struck uranium enrichment facilities in Natang and Fordow, missile bases in Kermanshah and Khorremabad, and Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz and other major Iranian cities were also under attack.
In response, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel. On the evening of 13 June, the IDF estimated that Iran fired fewer than 100 ballistic missiles at Israel during two rocket attacks, The Times of Israel reported.