Phone call between Paris and Tehran
French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Iranian President Massoud Pezechkian on Sunday, urging Iran to stop its military strikes in the region.
“I stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region,” Macron said in a post on X.
Je me suis entretenu avec le président iranien Massoud Pezechkian.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 8, 2026
Je lui ai indiqué que la sécurité et le retour en France de Cécile Kohler et Jacques Paris, qui se trouvent actuellement dans l'enceinte de l'ambassade de France, restent pour nous une priorité absolue.…
According to the French president, he also called on Iran to guarantee freedom of navigation by “putting an end to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz”.
Concerns over nuclear and missile programmes
Macron also raised concerns about the development of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programmes, emphasising that a diplomatic solution remains necessary.
The conversation marks the first known contact between a Western leader and Iran’s president since the start of the war.
Case of detained French nationals raised
During the call, Macron also referred to the case of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French nationals who had been detained in Iran on espionage charges for more than three years.
They were released from an Iranian prison in November and transferred to the French Embassy in Tehran. Macron said their return to France remains an “absolute priority”.
According to Macron’s statement, both leaders agreed to remain in contact as diplomatic efforts continue.
Source: Euronews
