France, Iran to resume mutual relations

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron yesterday agreed to open a “new page for bilateral and regional cooperation between the two countries.”

The Iranian presidency said in a statement that Raisi and Macron had had a phone call, during which the two leaders discussed “mutual ties between the two countries, the possibility of the United States rejoining the nuclear agreement, as well as the latest developments in Afghanistan.”

The statement added that Macron had expressed his “desire to develop and strengthen France’s relations with Iran.”

READ: Raisi says Iran ready for talks but not with Western ‘pressure’

On the Afghanistan file, the French president stressed that his country would support a “government formed by the will of the Afghan people,” pointing to the need for the Taliban group “to adhere to issues such as human rights and international responsibilities.”

Macron also pointed out that it was “important” for Paris and Tehran “to cooperate with the Lebanese Hezbollah group to form a strong and effective government in this country.” He also said he hoped that the Vienna talks aiming to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement “could resume with the presence of Iran.”