Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron, urging him not to negotiate with Iran at the present time.
According to a readout from his office, the Israeli premier said that, with Tehran increasing its regional aggression and threatening Israel and others, “now is “precisely not the time” to hold conciliatory talks with the regime.
In the phone call, initiated by the French side, the two discussed recent regional tensions in Israel’s north as well as with the Gaza Strip. The Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu told Macron Israel would defend itself from attacks by enemies who desire its destruction.
He added that whoever gives cover to aggression against Israel will not be safe from attack, in apparent reference to Israeli strikes in Syria and Lebanon. Israel has also been blamed for a series of recent strikes against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
Macron has been one of the leading voices in the European Union for dialogue with the Islamic Republic. This week he arranged the surprise arrival of Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, and proposed a summit between US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Trump showed openness to the notion, a fact that has reportedly caused intense concern in Jerusalem.
According to a New York Times report Thursday, Iranian officials increasingly believe their nation will eventually have no choice but to negotiate with Trump, and even view talks a inevitable.
Citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter, the paper said Iran may even consider Trump’s demand to discuss its ballistic missile program and role in the region, but would also require Washington to guarantee long-lasting economic relief.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini gave a cautious welcome to the idea of negotiations Friday, saying “We are always in favor of talks, the more people talk, the more people understand each other better, on the basis of clarity and on the basis of respect.” But she added that “first and foremost what is existing needs to be preserved” — referring to UN Security Council resolutions and specifically the 2015 deal.
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