French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian at the UN General Assembly, urging Iran to help reduce tensions in Lebanon amid Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, backed by Tehran. Macron emphasized Iran’s responsibility to support de-escalation and influence destabilizing actors like Hezbollah.
As casualties rose in Lebanon, Macron spoke with Pezeshkian twice, urging restraint and preventing military escalation. Pezeshkian accused Israel of seeking conflict and denied supplying missiles to Russia, amidst Western sanctions over alleged support to Moscow in Ukraine.
Macron also raised concerns about Iran’s role in the Ukraine conflict and requested the release of three French nationals held in Iran. Despite Pezeshkian’s reformist image, doubts linger about his influence in Iran’s regime, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The meeting at the UN highlighted the delicate geopolitical dance between France, Iran, and Israel, with Macron seeking to leverage diplomacy to manage tensions and secure the release of French detainees in Iran.