France calls for diplomatic solution following US attacks on Iran

France on Sunday expressed concern over the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and called for “restraint”, as President Emmanuel Macron prepared to convene a meeting of the national defense council.

The French government, in coordination with its European partners, reiterated its support for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

“France has taken note with concern of the strikes carried out last night by the United States of America against three sites of Iran’s nuclear programme,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X on Sunday.

He said that France did not take part in planning the strikes.

Barrot added that France was urging “all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict”.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Saturday that France, along with its European partners, intends to intensify diplomatic engagement with Iran. According to the French presidency, Macron is scheduled to convene a meeting of the Defence and National Security Council at 1730 GMT on Sunday.

The president, who spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and the leader of Oman earlier Sunday, “intends to continue his contacts with European partners and leaders in the region in the coming hours”, his office added.

On Friday, diplomats from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva. The talks took place a week after Israel began its strikes on Iranian targets.

During the meeting, the European representatives encouraged Iran to re-engage in diplomatic efforts with the United States to help resolve the ongoing dispute over its nuclear programme.

“France has repeatedly expressed its very firm opposition to Iran’s access to nuclear weapons,” Barrot said.

“France is convinced that a lasting settlement of this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”