On October 13th, during a phone call, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in an effort to ease tensions in the Middle East.
In an official statement released by the French government later that night, Macron urged Raisi to support efforts to “de-escalate” the situations in Gaza and Lebanon. He expressed hope that Iran could leverage its influence to help reduce regional tensions.
According to a press release from the Iranian government, Raisi and Macron discussed the situation in southern Lebanon, exploring ways to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Iranian statement noted that Raisi welcomed efforts towards a ceasefire and supported peace in the Middle East. During the call, he condemned the actions of the Israeli military, particularly the killing of civilians and violations of international law. Raisi also positively acknowledged Macron’s recent call for a halt to arms shipments to Israel for its operations in Gaza.
On the same day, Macron also communicated with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to address the ongoing situation in Lebanon. He reaffirmed France’s support for Lebanon and its people as they face intensified Israeli airstrikes. Macron emphasized that achieving a ceasefire in Lebanon is urgent.
As of October 13th, clashes continued between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense announced plans to provide Israel with the THAAD missile defense system to enhance its air defense capabilities. Earlier this month, Iran had launched a significant number of missiles targeting Israeli military and security objectives.
