Macron pressured Iranian president for de-escalation in Lebanon

(Patria) - French President Emmanuel Macron pressured the President of Iran to use his influence to reduce rising tensions in Lebanon, where Israel is attacking Hezbollah, supported by Tehran. Macron met with Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly amid rising casualties in Lebanon, AFP reported.

Macron "emphasized Iran's responsibility to support general de-escalation and use its influence on destabilizing actors," according to a statement from the Elysee, clearly alluding to Hezbollah.

Macron had already spoken by phone twice with Pezeshkian as tensions rose between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite movement.

On August 7, Macron called on the Iranian president to avoid repression and work to prevent military escalation after Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an alleged Israeli operation while in Tehran for Pezeshkian's inauguration.

Pezeshkian assessed on Monday that Israel is seeking conflict, saying that Iran refrains from revenge after Western powers spoke of progress in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.