Macron welcomes Middle East ceasefire, urges strict compliance by all parties
France’s President Emmanuel Macron
Abdullateef Fowewe
French President Emmanuel Macron has praised a fragile two-week ceasefire in the Middle East, crediting Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump for accepting the truce brokered by Pakistan amid escalating 2026 regional conflicts.
In a post on X, Macron detailed his diplomatic outreach, “I spoke today with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, as well as with U.S. President Donald Trump. I told both of them that their decision to accept a ceasefire was the best possible one.”
He stressed the need for universal adherence, particularly in volatile areas like Lebanon, where Israeli strikes against Hezbollah persist.
“I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon,” Macron wrote.
He added, “This is a necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting.”
Macron called for broader talks to secure lasting peace, spotlighting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, ballistic missiles, regional influence, and interference in the Strait of Hormuz.
“It must open the way to comprehensive negotiations capable of ensuring security for all in the Middle East. Any agreement will have to address the concerns raised by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its regional policy and its actions obstructing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
France plans to lead diplomatically, Macron added, noting recent calls with leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Iraq.
“This is also what I discussed today in my exchanges with the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Iraq,” he said, positioning Paris as a key player in coordination with regional partners.
