French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Bzeshkyan, during a meeting in New York on Tuesday to use Tehran’s influence to promote “general de-escalation” in the Middle East. Macron also warned Iran against providing military support to Russia.
According to a statement from the Élysée Palace, during the meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Macron emphasized Iran’s responsibility in fostering general calm and using its influence over destabilizing parties, particularly referencing Tehran-backed Hezbollah.
The statement further noted that Macron cautioned Bzeshkyan against supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine, following accusations by Western nations that Iran had supplied Russia with missiles.
Macron “warned the Iranian president against continuing to support Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine,” the statement added.
On a different note, Macron called on Bzeshkyan to immediately release three French citizens who have been “arbitrarily held hostage in Iranian prisons for two years.” The French President expressed regret over their “unacceptable” detention conditions, reiterating that their freedom is “a prerequisite for any improvement in bilateral relations with France.”
Additionally, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib announced on Tuesday that the number of Lebanese displaced due to the ongoing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah has approached half a million.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad reported that Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon have resulted in 558 deaths and over 1,800 injuries, including 50 children and 94 women. This marks the highest toll in a single day since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
