Macron Calls Pezeshkian — Demands Halt to Regional Strikes and Hormuz Reopening

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Day 9, posting on X that he had called on Iran to halt strikes against other countries in the region and to end the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Macron also reiterated France's position that a diplomatic solution is necessary to end the conflict. The call represents the first confirmed direct contact between a Western leader and the Iranian president since the war began. Macron is uniquely positioned to make this call: France has not joined the US-Israeli military campaign, has deployed its forces in a stated defensive posture, and has been building diplomatic relationships with Qatar, Egypt, and Azerbaijan. By speaking directly with Pezeshkian, Macron is activating the European diplomatic track alongside the Oman back-channel. The demand to reopen Hormuz is significant: with Iraqi oil production down 70% and European energy markets stressed, France has a direct economic interest in the strait's reopening that the US (now energy independent) does not share to the same degree. The Macron-Pezeshkian call also signals that Europe is willing to speak with Iran directly while the US and Israel maintain their military campaign — positioning France as a potential bridge to a ceasefire.