France urges Israel to respect US-Iran ceasefire deal for Lebanon

France has called on Israel to respect a US-Iran agreement that reportedly includes a ceasefire in Lebanon, following renewed Israeli airstrikes in the country's south. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that Israel must adhere to the agreement, urging the United States to exert necessary pressure on the Israeli government to ensure compliance.

The French appeal was made after Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon resulted in 18 deaths and 33 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israel, in turn, reported the deaths of four soldiers, including a senior officer, in Lebanon.

Barrot also commented on the postponement of talks between Washington and Tehran, which were scheduled to begin in Switzerland to implement the agreement. He stressed that while the most difficult steps remain, the postponements should not be over-interpreted, especially since the agreement was signed earlier. He emphasized the importance of continued discussions, even at a technical level, to initiate the agreement's first stages.

France aims to play an active role in discussions concerning Iran's nuclear program. Barrot indicated that France would not approve the lifting of UN sanctions against Tehran unless satisfied with the final agreement's terms. He added that regional stability hinges on US-Iran talks addressing Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for proxies. France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, would need to approve any sanctions relief.