PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered the launch of a joint European diplomatic initiative aimed at securing a negotiated end to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
The move came following a meeting of France’s national security council, during which Macron instructed Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to develop a “demanding negotiated settlement” in coordination with close European partners. Specifics of the plan have not yet been released but are expected in the coming days.
Barrot has reportedly been in regular contact with his British and German counterparts—key players in the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement—as Israel’s military campaign against Iran continues for a sixth consecutive day.
The Élysée statement emphasized Macron’s deepening concerns over the scope of Israeli strikes, which have increasingly targeted sites in Iran not associated with its nuclear or missile programs. The statement also cited the rising civilian toll on both sides as a matter of urgent concern.
“It is necessary to urgently end these military operations, which pose significant threats to regional security,” the French president said.
France has joined other European nations in warning of the consequences if the conflict continues unchecked, especially amid fears of nuclear escalation. Macron also called for immediate arrangements to assist French nationals wishing to leave Iran or Israel, should the security situation deteriorate further.
The initiative is seen as a diplomatic counterbalance to the increasingly hawkish posture of the United States, where President Donald Trump has signaled potential support for Israeli military action.
