France tells why Macron called Putin

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that one of the reasons for the first telephone conversation between President Emmanuel Macron and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in three years was Paris' concern over Iran's nuclear programme. He revealed this in an interview with French publication Valeurs actuelles.

Lecornu stressed that France is seriously concerned about the development of Iran's nuclear programme, especially against the backdrop of recent Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

To curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, it is necessary to work with members of the UN Security Council and major nuclear powers, even if we have disagreements on other issues," the minister said.

Responding to a clarifying question on whether Iran was the main reason for the call, Lecornu said: "Of course."

He also recalled that Macron last communicated with Putin in September 2022 about the situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear plant in Ukraine.

When the president asked me to contact Sergei Shoigu, Russia's former defence minister, it was mainly to discuss nuclear issues and the fight against terrorism," the French defence minister added.