French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed a ceasefire in Iran, insisting it should pave to way for negotiations around Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities.
Iran, the United States and Israel said they reached a deal for a two-week ceasefire, with Tehran saying it would negotiate with the United States in Islamabad beginning Friday.
In his opening remarks at the top of a Defence Council meeting with top ministers, Macron said “this ceasefire announcement is a very good thing.”
He said diplomacy alone would “provide the necessary security guarantees for stability throughout the entire region.”
Macron also called for the end to the conflict in Lebanon where Israel’s strikes and the occupation of the southern part of the country “cannot be a long-term solution”.
“Regarding Lebanon, which, as of now, is also included in the ceasefire, which is a good and even essential thing, and where strikes have ceased in recent hours, the situation is critical,” Macron said.
A regional official said Lebanon is included in the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
The official, who is involved in negotiations and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the pause applies to “all fronts including Lebanon.”
Pakistan, which is a key mediator, has said the ceasefire includes the fighting in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, said Wednesday that the ceasefire won’t stop his country’s fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Macron meanwhile also told the Council that Iran’s decision to allow two French former detainees to leave the country and head home was “a relief for all of us.”
Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris had been holed up in French diplomatic premises there since their release from prison.
The green light for them to leave Iran signalled how Iran is differentiating between nations, treating some favourably and others as foes, in the context of the Iran war.
