New York, Sep 24: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani its time for Iran to take measures and help reducing tensions across the Middle East, as the path of de-escalation in the region has been narrowed now.
The statement comes as Macron and Rouhani held 90-minute talks during a bilateral meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.
This follows allegations put forth by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson against Iran, accusing the Islamic Republic of drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil plants.
In a statement, France’s presidential office said, “The president said that in the current situation, the path of de-escalation was narrow, but more necessary than ever, and that the time had come for Iran to take it.” The statement also called for the need to launch discussions over security agenda in the Gulf region.
Iranian UN mission spokesperson Alireza Miryousefi, in his official twitter handle, said: “Two sides discussed ways to save the #IranDeal, bilateral relations, and President Rouhani’s new initiative for the region: ‘HOPE.’”
https://twitter.com/miryousefi/status/1176303767374958593
On last Saturday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) head Major General Hossein Salami said any nation that would attempt to target Iran will be the “main battlefield”.
On Saturday, Salami was quoted by state-run TV as saying, “Be careful, a limited aggression will not remain limited. We are after punishment and we will continue until the full destruction of any aggressor.”
Iranian officials have maintained its stance against the United States following Yemen Houthi rebels-claimed drone attacks on Saudi Arabia‘s Aramco oil plants, stating on Friday it would oppose any American plots against the Islamic Republic “from the Mediterranean, to the Red Sea, and to the Indian Ocean”.
The statement comes after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia officially joined the coalition of the US-led international maritime mission that aims at patrolling waters nearby Iran. Their decision came following Yemen’s Houthi rebel-claimed drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil plants.
Also Read:
- 74th UNGA : PM Narendra Modi holds series of bilateral meetings with world leaders in New York
- 74th UNGA : In meeting with Imran Khan, Trump offers to mediate on Kashmir if India, Pakistan agree
- 74th UNGA : Trump, Moon Jae-in discuss military cost-sharing, North Korea’ denuclearization