France calls on Iran to make 'substantial concessions' and 'return the future of the people to them'
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrois emphasized on Monday that the Iranian authorities must "make substantial concessions and completely change their position." The day before, Iran announced its new Supreme Leader.
Barrois said in a radio interview on Monday: "The Iranian regime must make substantial concessions and completely change its position, stop these destabilizing actions that threaten the region and us, and return the future of the Iranian people to them."
Mojtaba Hashemi, 56 years old, is believed to have close ties with Iran's conservative faction, especially because of his close relationship with the Islamic Republic's ideological military force - the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. On Sunday, an 88-member body of Shia clerics elected him as the Supreme Leader.
He succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war launched by the US and Israel.
Mr. Barrois also called on Israel and the pro-Iranian Shia organization Hezbollah to stop the mutual air strikes between Lebanon and Israel. Barro said: "Hezbollah must stop the attacks, as it bears overwhelming responsibility for the situation we are in today, and Israel must stop prolonging these operations,"
When asked whether Israel's military action in southern Lebanon might be excessive, the minister refused to comment.
He stated: "Israel's military action in Lebanon is a response to Hezbollah's unprovoked and unreasonable attacks, which have caused large-scale displacement of the population, resulted in dozens of deaths, hundreds of injuries, and will soon lead to thousands of injuries."
He added: "Both sides must return to the previous status, that is, the ceasefire agreement reached by France in November 2024."
Lebanon Conflict
According to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), intense fighting broke out in areas near the Syrian border in eastern Lebanon, with Israeli forces landing in the area by helicopter.
Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, said they fought against Israeli forces overnight. Two Hezbollah officials told AFP that the Lebanese Shia organization shot down an Israeli helicopter in the Bekaa Valley, where Nabatiyyeh is located.
An AFP journalist heard a loud explosion early Monday morning in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli military said they attacked Hezbollah facilities.
Hezbollah also said they repelled an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon with machine guns and rockets. According to the Lebanese National News Agency ANI, Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Tirtar in the southern port city of Tyre, killing three people and injuring 15 others.
Sources: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859194344126472/
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