France is collaborating with its European allies to propose a negotiated solution aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. This initiative follows a national security council meeting convened by President Emmanuel Macron, who tasked Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot with developing a plan in the coming days. The objective is to establish a “demanding negotiated settlement” to end hostilities, although specific details regarding the proposal have not yet been disclosed.
In recent days, Barrot has maintained regular communication with his counterparts from Germany and the United Kingdom, particularly in light of Israel’s recent extensive airstrikes against Iranian targets. These three nations were instrumental in the negotiations that produced the historic 2015 nuclear agreement, which sought to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the United States withdrew from this agreement during Donald Trump’s presidency, complicating efforts to stabilize the region.
Amid ongoing tensions, Macron has called on Israel to halt military strikes targeting locations in Iran that are not associated with nuclear or ballistic missile activities. He expressed deep concern regarding the escalating violence, which has increasingly affected civilian populations in both Iran and Israel. The French president emphasized the urgent need to cease military operations that pose substantial risks to regional security.
Furthermore, Macron instructed the foreign ministry to take steps to assist French citizens who may wish to leave either Israel or Iran, although no additional information about these measures has been provided at this time. The situation remains fluid, and diplomatic efforts are likely to intensify as France seeks to play a key role in mitigating the conflict.
