PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that France and its European partners would ramp up talks with Iran following more than a week of hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel.
On Friday, British, French, German and EU top diplomats held talks in Geneva with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi a week after Israel started its bombardment.
They urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States to find a solution in the standoff over its nuclear programme, but Tehran warned it could only consider diplomacy once Israel halted its bombardment.
On Saturday, Macron said talks will be stepped up in an effort to avoid greater conflict.
“I am convinced that a path exists to end the war and avoid even greater dangers,” Macron said in English on X after holding phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“To achieve this, we will accelerate the negotiations led by France and its European partners with Iran.”
Macron reiterated that “Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.”
“It is up to Iran to provide full guarantees that its intentions are peaceful,” he added.
Pezeshkian has repeatedly said Iran does not plan to develop nuclear weapons but will pursue its right to nuclear energy and research.
The Iranian President @drpezeshkian called me.
I reiterated my firm demand: Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be released. Their inhumane detention is unjust. I expect them to return to France.
I also expressed my deep concern about Iran’s nuclear program.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 21, 2025
In an interview with a US TV channel, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said Iran will never completely abandon uranium enrichment.
Showing a lack of trust in the US, Araghchi said the Trump administration must demonstrate its commitment to reaching an agreement within two weeks.
He also said US Special Envoy to Middle East Steve Witkoff was a gentleman but he could not keep his promises.
Araghchi suspected that the US might have used talks as cover for Israeli attacks.
To a query, he said attacking Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei would be the greatest crime, however, they would not be able to do it.
Iran and Israel launch fresh attacks
On Saturday, Iran and Israel exchanged fresh attacks. Iran launched an early morning missile attack on central Israel, resulting in a fire in Holon, as several Israeli attacks were reported including on Iran’s Isfahan, home to a key nuclear research centre.
Shortly after 2:30 am in Israel (4:30 am PKT), the Israeli military warned of an incoming missile barrage from Iran, triggering air raid sirens across parts of central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Reuters reported.
Sirens also sounded in southern Israel, said Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service.
An Israeli military official said Iran had fired five ballistic missiles and that there were no immediate indications of any missile impacts.
Israel said Saturday that its air force had launched fresh airstrikes against missile storage and launch sites in central Iran.
According to AFP, Iran launched two salvoes of missiles at Israel on Friday. At least 19 people were injured in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, a local hospital said.
At least 25 people have been killed in Israel since the war began, according to Israeli authorities.
Iran says 400 killed
Iran on Saturday said that more than 400 people have been killed and at least 3,056 others wounded since Israel launched its attack on June 13.
Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations at Iran’s Health Ministry, has provided an update about the number of casualties from Israeli attacks on the country.
In a statement on social media, he said nine days of attacks have killed more than 400 Iranians, including 54 women and children, and wounded 3,056 others.
Kermanpour added most of the casualties have been civilians.
