STANDARDDIPLOMATICVERIFIED

Macron calls Herzog and Iranian President Pezeshkian — urges Lebanon restraint and Iran to engage in good faith

2026-03-24 · 21:00 UTC·Paris, France

French President Macron called both Israeli President Herzog and Iranian President Pezeshkian on Day 25. To Herzog: full solidarity against Iran/Hezbollah, urgency of Lebanon restraint, resumption of Israel-Lebanon direct talks. To Pezeshkian: Iran must 'engage in good faith' in negotiations, end attacks on regional states, restore Hormuz freedom of navigation.

French President Macron held two separate calls on Day 25. In a call with Israeli President Herzog, Macron expressed full solidarity against Iran/Hezbollah attacks, urged restraint in Lebanon, and called for direct Israel-Lebanon talks — saying France is 'working to promote this goal.' In a second call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Macron called on Iran to 'engage in good faith in negotiations' to end the war, demanded an end to 'unacceptable attacks on countries in the region,' and called for the restoration of 'freedom of navigation' in the Strait of Hormuz. Macron posted both calls publicly on X. The Pezeshkian call makes France the second major Western power (after the US) to engage Iran directly on ceasefire terms, and Macron's explicit Hormuz demand aligns France with the UK-led Hormuz Coalition's operational mission.

macronherzogfrancelebanonhormuzdiplomaticnatoday25

Actor responses

NATONEUTRALDIPLOMATIC

Macron to Herzog: Full solidarity with Israel against Iran/Hezbollah. But 'urgency of preventing further escalation in Lebanon.' Calls for Israel-Lebanon direct talks. France 'working to promote' that dialogue. Also calls on Iran to reopen Hormuz and all parties to preserve civilian/energy infrastructure.

IsraelNEUTRALDIPLOMATIC

Israel received Macron call expressing solidarity against Iran/Hezbollah while urging Lebanon restraint and direct Israel-Lebanon talks. France positioning as a mediator for Israel-Lebanon dialogue track alongside military solidarity with Israel.

IranOPPOSINGDIPLOMATIC

France calls on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Macron also urges 'preserving civilian and energy infrastructure' — a reference to Bushehr and Hormuz. France aligning with UK Hormuz Coalition diplomatic pressure on Iran.

IranNEUTRALDIPLOMATIC

France's Macron calls Iranian President Pezeshkian directly: Iran must 'engage in good faith in negotiations,' end attacks on regional states, restore Hormuz freedom of navigation. France joins the US and China in directly engaging Tehran — adding multilateral diplomatic pressure to military pressure on Iran to negotiate.

Sources

T1Macron X / Times of Israel9% reliability