Barrot says risk of US-Iran escalation remains possible
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Presse de Tunisie
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said in Paris that the risk of escalation between Washington and Tehran had not been ruled out, after a G7 meeting. Paris and Rome also want to create a multinational force to replace UNIFIL in Lebanon after December, according to AFP.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on 10 November that the risk of renewed strikes and a new escalation between the United States and Iran remained possible. He said diplomatic efforts focused in particular on preventing a resumption of strikes and seeking a political solution, according to AFP.
During the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris, Jean-Noël Barrot referred to discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane ben Jassem Al Thani. He also cited efforts by countries in the region to enable the release or reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, for his part, called for an “all-out diplomatic effort” to end the war between Iran, the United States and Israel, according to AFP.
G7 ministers also agreed on the need to avoid a security vacuum in southern Lebanon after the planned withdrawal at the end of the year of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL. Jean-Noël Barrot said member countries wanted to accelerate the establishment of a new security arrangement in the region.
