French President Emmanuel Macron emerged from an emergency meeting of top politicians and advisors on Saturday night to insist on a diplomatic solution to the unfolding conflict in Iran and the Middle East.
"Diplomatic efforts must resume their rightful place," said Macron after two hours of talks at the Elysée Palace in Paris with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, and Catherine Vautrin, Minister of Defence.
"I hope that we can take all necessary steps to ensure that diplomatic efforts resume."
Israeli and American armed forces launched air strikes on targets in Iran on Saturday morning.
In a video address, the US president, Donald Trump, made clear the goal of the assaults was destruction of the Islamic republic's military and removal of the authorities who have been in power since the 1979 revolution.
On Saturday night, just before an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that the residence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been destroyed.
"We have begun the operation to end this [Iranian] threat," said Netanyahu who warned Israelis that the war would last as long as necessary.
"Do not miss this opportunity to liberate yourselves," Netanyahu added in an echo of Trump's call earlier on Saturday to Iranians to exploit the strikes to force a change of regime. "The help you have been hoping for has arrived," said Netanyahu.
Israeli media reported on Saturday night that Khamenei had been killed in an air strike. Trump also said that Khamenei was dead. However, there was no independent verification of the 86-year-old's demise nor confirmation from Iranian authorities.
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Iran responded to the initial wave of assaults with strikes on neighbouring states Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates who host US military bases.
"France will stand alongside countries that are affected by or threatened by Iran's response," said Macron.
Before the defence council's meeting, Macron spoke by telephone with counterparts in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait as well as the president of the autonomous region of Kurdistan.
He was also in contact with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
"Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes," the European troika said in a joint statement. "We call for the resumption of negotiations and urge Iranian leaders to seek a negotiated solution."
During an intense day of diplomatic activity, Macron spoke about a dangerous escalation in the region following the attacks. He confirmed that France had not been warned of the bombings.
"The priority is the safety of our nationals in all the countries that are currently under attack," said Macron. "As well as the security of our military and diplomatic bases and, of course, security on our national territory," Macron added.
Nunez warned the country's police chiefs to be on alert for potential protests against the American and Israeli strikes.
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In a communiqué seen by the French news agency, Agence France-Presse, Nunez said increased security should be increased around diplomatic missions.
"You will pay particular attention to gatherings related to the international situation that may take place in the coming days," he added.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of La France Insoumise, criticised the offensive.
He claimed the strikes were aimed solely at securing oil supplies and controlling the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions
Fabien Roussel, the leader of the Communist party, saId: "My support goes to the Iranian people, caught in a vice between the dictatorship of the mullahs, the provocations of Benjamin Netanyahu and the warmongering policies of Donald Trump."
In his video address from his Florida home and posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump said: "We are going to destroy their [Iranian] missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.
"It will be totally – again – obliterated. We're going to annihilate their navy."
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Just after the strikes were launched, the exiled son of Iran's last shah voiced confidence that the end was nigh for Iran's rulers.
"We are very close to final victory," Reza Pahlavi said in an online video address.
Pahlavi, who lives in the Washington area in the United States, added: "I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran."
