French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to use Iran’s influence to help reduce tensions in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes
on Hezbollah have intensified. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
Macron urged Pezeshkian, seen as a reformist within Iran’s clerical regime, to help ease the conflict in Lebanon, emphasizing Iran's close ties with Hezbollah, a group backed by Tehran. He also expressed concern over Iran’s continued support for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In addition, Macron reiterated France’s condemnation of aggression against Lebanon and called for the release of three French nationals imprisoned in Iran following their involvement in the 2022 protests.
This meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between Macron and Pezeshkian. The Iranian president had previously suggested that Iran held back from retaliatory actions amid Western efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
Macron’s diplomatic efforts reflect France's ongoing role in multilateral negotiations aimed at preventing further escalation in the region.