Iran – Meeting between Stéphane Séjourné and his Iranian counterpart (23 August 2024)

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs spoke by phone with his new Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Friday, August 23, 2024.

The Minister reiterated that it is an absolute priority for France to secure the immediate release of our compatriots who are being held hostage in Iran, a request that President Macron has already made of his Iranian counterpart.

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs also shared his very deep concern regarding the rising tensions in the region. He called on his counterpart to do his utmost to avoid a regional conflagration, which would not be in the interest of anyone, including Iran. He asked Iran to call on the destabilizing forces it supports in the region to exercise the utmost restraint. The Minister explained that he shared messages with all of the parties involved during his recent trip to the region to call for de-escalation, in particular between Israel and Lebanon.

The Minister issued a warning against Iran's pursuit of destabilizing proliferation activities.

The Minister underscored France's commitment to establishing a credible political framework that is capable of bringing peace and security to the region, provided that Iran complies with its international commitments.