Macron Urges Iran’s Pezeshkian to Halt Regional Strikes as France Rallies West Asia De-Escalation Effort

French President Emmanuel Macron has launched a flurry of emergency diplomatic calls with leaders across West Asia and the Caucasus as the Iran-centered conflict threatens to widen across the region.

In a series of statements posted Sunday, Macron said he had spoken with the Emir of Kuwait, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle; Via: FrenchEmbassyZA

Macron said he also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, pressing Tehran to halt its military strikes across the region and ensure the security of global shipping lanes. Macron said he raised France’s “absolute priority” of securing the safety and return of French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, currently within the French Embassy compound, while urging Iran to immediately end attacks on regional countries and restore freedom of navigation by ending what he described as the “de facto closure” of the Strait of Hormuz. The French leader also reiterated Europe’s concerns over Iran’s advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and its broader regional activities, warning that they lie at the heart of the current crisis, while stressing that only diplomacy and de-escalation can prevent the conflict from spiralling further.

The calls signal growing European concern that the escalating military confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States could destabilize multiple fronts stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea.

Speaking after a call with Kuwait’s leadership, Macron said France had reaffirmed its solidarity with the Gulf state following recent attacks targeting the country. He said Paris had already deployed defensive military capabilities to help protect Kuwaiti territory.

“Kuwait can count on France,” Macron said, adding that Paris would work with partners to prevent the situation from sliding toward wider regional “ignition.”

The French president also spoke with Qatar’s emir, pledging what he described as “active solidarity” with Doha and confirming that France is deploying defensive military support, particularly air-defense capabilities, to assist in protecting the country.

Energy security and shipping routes dominated the discussions. Macron emphasized that oil tankers must be able to safely navigate critical maritime corridors such as the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz — arteries that carry a significant portion of global energy supplies.

In his conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Macron stressed the urgency of securing maritime transport in the Red Sea, warning that disruptions could ripple through global trade and energy markets.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, with Macron calling for efforts to avoid further escalation and to restore a ceasefire. He reiterated support for reopening the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Beyond the Middle East, Macron said he also spoke with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev following Iranian strikes directed at Azerbaijani territory, and thanked Baku for assisting in evacuating French citizens from the region.

Separately, the French president reaffirmed France’s commitment to the security and sovereignty of Iraq during a call with Nechirvan Barzani, the president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.

The diplomatic push reflects mounting fears among European governments that the war could spiral into a multi-front regional crisis, threatening energy routes, civilian populations, and already fragile political balances across West Asia.

Macron said France would continue consultations with regional leaders and international partners to rally support for de-escalation and negotiations.

Macron had earlier announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, its battle group, the frigate Languedoc and Rafale fighter aircrafts to the Mediterranean to protect French assets and contribute to the defense of our allies in the region.

“Whatever the clamor of weapons,” he said, “lasting stability can only come through de-escalation and dialogue.”

UPDATE:

Macron’s call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian adds another layer to France’s ongoing diplomatic push across the region. In the past 24 hours, the French leader has also spoken with leaders in Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Azerbaijan and Iraq’s Kurdistan region, seeking to rally support for de-escalation as missile strikes, drone attacks and shipping disruptions threaten to widen the war and destabilise key energy and trade routes across West Asia.

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