France expresses concern, urges restraint, over US strikes on Iran

France has joined a number of European leaders in expressing concern and urging "restraint" following US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities early Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron is to hold a defence council meeting later today.

Together with European partners, France has advocated a diplomatic solution in a bid to end the conflict between Israel and Iran which began with Israel launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on 13 June.

"France has taken note with concern of the strikes carried out last night by the United States of America against three sites of Iran's nuclear programme," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X on Sunday.

He said that France did not take part in planning the strikes.

Barrot added that France was urging "all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict".

'Return to negotiating table'

The French presidency said Emmanuel Macron would convene a meeting of the defence and national security council later on Sunday. 

The president, who spoke with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and the leader of Oman earlier Sunday, "intends to continue his contacts with European partners and leaders in the region in the coming hours", his office added.

Why is Israel bombing Iran?

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has urged all sides to return to the negotiating table. “Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” she said in a statement, adding that the EU's foreign ministers would discuss the situation on Monday.

Macron had said Saturday that France and its European partners planned to step up talks with Iran.

On Friday, British, French, German and EU diplomats held talks in Geneva with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a week after Israel started its bombardment of Iranian sites.

They urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States to find a solution in the standoff over its nuclear programme.

"France has repeatedly expressed its very firm opposition to Iran's access to nuclear weapons," Barrot said.

"France is convinced that a lasting settlement of this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."

Family of French couple jailed in Iran pleads for humanitarian evacuation

France is also concerned over the fate of three French citizens who are currently held hostage in Iran. Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris have been detained since May 2022 on espionage charges their families reject. Another French citizen, Olivier Grondeau, has also been imprisoned since October 2022.

France views their detentions as politically motivated hostage-taking. In a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, Macron reiterated a call for their release.