Macron calls on Iran to ease Hormuz Strait tensions

French President Emmanuel Macron disclosed on Saturday that he held a conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, pressing Tehran to take concrete steps toward de-escalation in the region. A key demand was ensuring the safety of maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies.

Macron backs Islamabad negotiations

“I urged him to seize the opportunity presented by the discussions launched in Islamabad to pave the way for a sustainable reduction in tensions, as well as for reaching a precise and binding agreement,” Macron wrote on the US-based platform X. The French leader emphasized that any such accord must include all relevant regional actors and offer firm security guarantees.

Ceasefire and Lebanon’s sovereignty

Macron also stressed “the importance of fully respecting the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.” He reiterated that France firmly supports Lebanese authorities as the sole legitimate body responsible for state sovereignty and national decision-making. Paris stands ready to help restore free and secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, he added.

Human toll of ongoing conflict

Pakistan is currently hosting landmark US-Iran negotiations, seen as the most significant direct dialogue between the two nations since 1979. The talks unfold against a fragile two-week ceasefire. According to Iranian health authorities, nearly 3,000 Iranian citizens have been killed in the war that began with a US-Israeli offensive on Iran on Feb. 28. At least 13 US service members have also died, with dozens wounded.