French President Emmanuel Macron asked Iran to stop supporting Russia in the invasion of Ukraine by ceasing to send them drones during a 90-minute call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi on Saturday, the Elysée announced in a press release.
Macron “warned of the serious consequences, both security and humanitarian, of Iran’s delivery of drones to Russia, and called on Tehran to put an immediate end to the support it is thus giving to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” read the press release.
Macron and Raissi “discussed how to promote relations, in particular, the ongoing (nuclear) negotiations and regional developments”, an Iranian official reported, as quoted by AFP.
Regarding nuclear, Macron “expressed his concern about the current trajectory of Iran’s nuclear program. He reiterated the determination of France and its European partners to find a diplomatic solution to this issue”, said the Elysée.
Macron also “stressed the importance of Tehran taking concrete and verifiable de-escalation measures, and implementing, fully and without delay, its international obligations as well as the commitments made to the International Atomic Energy Agency” on 4 March.
On Friday, a White House spokesperson warned that Russia “is receiving equipment from Iran to build a drone factory” on its soil and that this site “could be fully operational early next year”.
The French president thanked his Iranian counterpart for releasing two French hostages on 12 May, but he called on releasing four other French citizens still held in Iran.
Finally, Macron and Raïssi discussed the regional situation. The French President reiterated “France’s constant commitment to stability and security in the region” and the “urgent need to strengthen regional cooperation to meet common challenges.”
(Clara Bauer-Babef | EURACTIV.fr)
Read more with EURACTIV
Germany, France celebrate friendship with free train tickets
Source: euractiv.com
