France expresses 'concern' over US strikes on Iran
France expressed "concern" over the United States' air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities on Sunday, June 22, and called on all parties to "exercise restraint" to avoid greater conflict. "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-Noël Barrot posted on X. He said that France had not taken part in the planning of those strikes. Paris, Barrot added, "urges all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict."
There was no immediate reaction from President Emmanuel Macron, who had said, on Saturday, that France and its European partners planned to step up talks with Iran.
On Friday, British, French, German and EU top diplomats held talks in Geneva with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a week after Israel started its bombardment of Iranian sites. They urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the US to find a solution, amid the standoff over its nuclear programme.
"France has repeatedly expressed its very firm opposition to Iran's access to nuclear weapons," Barrot said, adding: "France is convinced that a lasting settlement of this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."
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