Macron to Iranian President: Efforts Needed to Avoid Escalation Between Lebanon and Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Massoud Bezgikian the "necessity of making every effort to avoid military escalation" between Israel and Hezbollah. Macron urged Iran to "halt its support for destabilizing entities." The French president requested Tehran to exercise restraint, stating that the outbreak of a new war "would have devastating consequences for the region." He also "called on the Iranian president to put an end to the concerning escalation of the Iranian nuclear program," advocating for a "diplomatic solution," according to the Elysee.