Israeli strikes in Iran: Emmanuel Macron calls for "resumption of dialogue" and denounces the "threat" of the Iranian nuclear program "to collective stability"

At a press conference on Friday evening, Emmanuel Macron, however, reiterated that France's support for Israel was not "limitless," following the numerous Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

Emmanuel Macron calls on Israel and Iran to "exercise the greatest restraint to avoid escalation." The French President spoke at the Elysée Palace on Friday, June 13, about the situation in the Middle East, following Israeli strikes on several nuclear and military sites in Iran .

Emmanuel Macron believes that Tehran bears "a heavy responsibility for the destabilization of the entire region" because Iran "has broken its own promises" regarding its nuclear program . "The risk of Iran's move toward nuclear weapons threatens the region, Europe, and collective stability in general," says the French president, for whom "it is through negotiation" that the issue "must now be resolved ." He calls for "the resumption of negotiations and the conclusion of an agreement" following a national defense and security council meeting.

"Iran has continued its program in recent months, has continued to enrich, and is close to a critical stage" which allows "the production of nuclear devices," assured Emmanuel Macron.

The President of the Republic accuses Tehran of having accumulated "nearly 40 times more enriched uranium than it was authorized to" , and recalls that the International Atomic Energy Agency had "found it impossible to ensure that this was a peaceful program" .

France will participate in "operations to protect and defend" Israel in the event of "reprisals" by Iran, if it is "in a position to do so," Emmanuel Macron declared. However, France's support for Israel "is not unconditional and unlimited," insisted Emmanuel Macron. "I have no plans to participate in any offensive operation whatsoever. That is not our role," asserted the head of state, who recalled that "under no circumstances have we supported operations that endangered civilians."

"This, in no case, should make us forget Gaza," insists Emmanuel Macron, who points out that the Israeli attacks in Gaza "must be seen in the context of the wider conflict taking place in the region . " "These attacks must not distract us from the need to establish a ceasefire" between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, insists Emmanuel Macron, who describes the humanitarian blockade as "unjustifiable." The French president notes on this occasion that the UN conference on the Palestinian state, which was to be held next week in New York, must be postponed "for logistical and security reasons" but "will take place as soon as possible."

The French head of state also announced a "strengthening" of the Sentinelle system, which deploys soldiers in France, "to deal with all potential threats on national territory." "Several measures have also been taken to guarantee the security of our nationals and our troops and our embassies in the region," added Emmanuel Macron, who "asks our compatriots not to go there, whatever the pretext." "Our military presence in the region is on alert," added the president.