(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) PARIS, April 30 (KUNA) -- French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday discussed by phone issues linked with Iran and the nuclear, ballistic and regional controversies linked to this country, Macron's office said.
The call follows a series of contacts Macron has held in the past 48 hours, including with leaders of Germany, Britain and Russia.
Moreover, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called Macron to expresse total opposition to any plans to change the Vienna nuclear accord signed in 2015 between Tehran and the major countries of the UN Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - as well as Germany.
That group, known as the P5+1, has maintained the deal up until the election of President Donald Trump, who has criticised the accord and threatened to withdraw from it despite indications that Iran was basically respecting the agreement.
France is staunchly opposed to a brusque withdrawal from the Vienna nuclear accord, but Macron is exploring a "new" agreement that would include more safeguards and restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities over time.
But any new agreement would also focus particularly on Iran's worrying ballistic missile sector and on Iranian regional influence in foreign conflicts and support for militants in several nations, notably in Yemen and Syria but also in Lebanon and to an extent in Iraq.
Israel is firmly opposed to the Vienna nuclear agreement and supports US threats to pull out unilaterally.
On Monday, Macron told Netanyahu of "the steps undertaken with a view to an expanded agreement on control of Iran's nuclear, ballistic and regional activity," the Elysee Palace statement said.
The French side gave no mention of the outcome of the conversation or regarding the Israel reaction to Macron's explanations.
But the French leader did reassure the Israeli Premier on the importance for France of Israel's security but he also "stressed the need to watch over regional stability and avoid any escalation," his office indicated. (end) jk.mt
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