France has opened discussions with China about moving towards “de-escalation” together amid the ongoing conflict in Iran.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday, with both agreeing to “work towards de-escalation, in conjunction with the Gulf countries” and to “find a path to a political resolution guaranteeing collective security interests and provision for the Iranian people’s aspirations,” a statement from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reads.
Barrot noted that the Iranian regime has a “responsibility in the ongoing escalation, after it unjustifiably struck several countries in the region,” the statement explains. “This chaos and terror approach follows its refusal to comply with Security Council resolutions regulating its nuclear programme and ballistic activities and banning support for non-state armed groups, and to enter in good faith into multilateral negotiations on its nuclear programme.”
Dialogue between the two countries will continue.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said over the weekend, following the strikes on Iran, that the “ongoing escalation is dangerous for all. It must stop.”
“The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good faith in negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as its regional destabilization activities,” he wrote on X. “This is absolutely necessary for the security of all in the Middle East.”
In January, China’s foreign ministry defended the Iranian government. China doubled down on its support for Iran this week, with Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning declaring it stands with Iran in “defending sovereignty and security, territorial integrity and national dignity and in safeguarding its own legitimate and lawful rights and interests.”
