French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Sunday that his country did not take part in the US strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities.
He said in a message on social media that France has learned with concern of the US military action against three nuclear sites.
It was neither involved in these strikes nor in their planning, Barrot said, adding that France urges the parties to show restraint in order to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict, Business Standard reports.
Jean-Noel Barrot also reiterated France's opposition to Iran gaining access to nuclear weapons.
France is convinced that a lasting solution to this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, he said. It remains ready to contribute to this in conjunction with its partners.
President Emmanuel Macron planned to convene a meeting of the country's defence council on Sundays, the presidency said.
Macron, who spoke with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and the leader of Oman earlier on Sunday, "intends to continue his contacts with European partners and leaders in the region in the coming hours," the presidency added. Macron had previously said, on Saturday, that France and its European partners planned to step up talks with Iran.
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 of Iranian sites. They urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the US to find a solution, amid the standoff over its nuclear programme.
"France has repeatedly expressed its very firm opposition to Iran's access to nuclear weapons," Barrot said, adding: "France is convinced that a lasting settlement of this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."
bd-pratidin/GR
