France's Macron Says Urged Trump, Iran President To Restart Talks

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he had urged US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian to resume stalled talks towards ending the Iran war.

"I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation," the French president wrote on X, after speaking to both leaders on Monday.

"It is essential, in particular, that the ceasefire be strictly respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon," Macron said.

"It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible," he added, referring to the key oil and gas shipping route where traffic has stalled since the start of the conflict.

France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait, Macron's office said earlier Tuesday.

Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports along the Strait starting on Monday. He did so after a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance returned from a meeting with Iranian officials in Pakistan without securing a deal to end the war, launched on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Also Read

West Asia War: Macron Condemns Israeli Strikes, Says Ceasefire Should Include Lebanon; Iran FM Says 'Ball In US Court'