French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he personally urged President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to resume peace negotiations that ended without a deal over the weekend.
Mr. Macron said he spoke to both leaders on Monday to prod the U.S. and Iran back to talks mediated by Pakistan.
“I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation,” Mr. Macron posted on X.
Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. envoys were unable to get Iran to agree to the administration’s terms during the most recent round of talks.
The U.S. and Iran are trading proposals for a lasting peace before a two-week ceasefire expires on April 22.
The U.S. told Iran to suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years, according to a New York Times report. But Tehran only wanted to pause its program for five years, and Mr. Trump rejected the counteroffer.
Mr. Trump set up a blockade of Iranian ports on Monday to gain economic leverage over Tehran officials and force them to negotiate over ending their nuclear ambitions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway.
Iran, meanwhile, wants Israel to stop bombarding Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.
Israel said Tuesday that one of its reserve soldiers was killed in Lebanon, bringing the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the fighting with Lebanon to 13.
“It is essential, in particular, that the ceasefire be strictly respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon,” Mr. Macron said. “It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible.”
