French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday, June 21, that France and its European partners would ramp up talks with Iran, following more than a week of hostilities between Iran and Israel.
On Friday, June 20th, British, French, German and EU top diplomats held talks in Switzerland with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a week after Israel started its bombardment, before the U.S. strikes began.
They urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States to find a solution in the standoff over its nuclear programme, but Tehran warned it could only consider diplomacy once Israel halted its bombardment.
On Saturday, Macron said talks will be stepped up in an effort to avoid greater conflict. “I am convinced that a path exists to end war and avoid even greater dangers,” Macron said, in English, on X after holding phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. “To achieve this, we will accelerate the negotiations led by France and its European partners with Iran.”
Macron reiterated that “Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.” “It is up to Iran to provide full guarantees that its intentions are peaceful,” he added.
