RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spoke over the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed the latest regional developments following the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The two leaders further reviewed challenges to maritime navigation and their implications for the global economy, and also exchanged perspectives on issues of shared interest, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Saturday.
“I reiterated my support for the ceasefire, which must be fully respected and extended without delay to Lebanon. We discussed the need to restore fully free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible,” Macron wrote on X.
Je viens d’échanger avec le prince héritier d’Arabie Saoudite, Mohammed Ben Salmane, sur la situation au Proche et Moyen-Orient.
J’ai rappelé mon soutien au cessez-le-feu, qui doit être pleinement respecté et étendu sans délai au Liban.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 11, 2026
“As talks get underway in Islamabad, we agreed to remain in close contact in order to contribute to a de-escalation, freedom of navigation, and the conclusion of an agreement to ensure lasting peace and security in the region,” added Macron.
The high-stakes Pakistan-mediated US-Iran peace talks are currently underway in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, to end the conflict.
A US team headed by Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf have already arrived in Pakistan for the high-stakes peace talks.
The negotiations come in the wake of a two-week ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump following weeks of intense conflict, including US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
