France is exerting efforts to avoid further escalation in the Middle East after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel.
On Monday, the European country has engaged, at the highest levels, in a call for de-escalation, urging Israel to abandon a military attack against Iran, and to respond using other means.
“We will do all we can to avoid things flaring up, escalating,” French President Emmanuel Macron told BFM TV in an interview that was mainly devoted to discuss the Olympic Games that his country is hosting next summer.
Macron said Iran’s attack on Israel was a “disproportionate response” to the bombing of its consulate in the Syrian capital, which killed high ranking Revolutionary Guards officers.
“Instead of touching Israeli interests outside of Israel, they went looking for Israel on its soil from their own soil, which is a first,” he said.
Firing a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel was an “unprecedented, very dangerous” act in the volatile Middle East, Macron said of Saturday’s attacks.
Macron also said he will speak Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The French President is worried about the “risk of a major regional confrontation” and therefore, he is looking for solutions allowing Israel to respond by means other than launching military attacks within Iranian territory.
Macron is hoping to convince Israel not to respond by escalating, but rather by isolating Iran, and to succeed in convincing the countries of the region that Iran is a threat.
In this regard, he underlined “Israel's victory” saying the Israelis managed to the quasi-totality of these missiles and drones. “Only seven hit their soil, with one person injured,” Macron said.
The French president called to “increase sanctions” against Tehran and “strengthen pressure on nuclear activities” in order to find a path to peace in the region.
Macron said France tries to be a mediator power and a power of balance between all countries, affirming the US important role to contain Iran.
Meanwhile, the French President affirmed that French jets intercepted “what they should” during Iran's attack against Israel.
“For years now, we have a military base in Jordan to fight against terrorism,” he said. “Jordan's airspace was violated by those shots, our jets took off and we have intercepted what we should intercept.”
Macron’s statements made no reference to Israel.
On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné said he had asked the Foreign Ministry to summon the Iranian ambassador on Monday to express a “message of firmness.”
