Israel-Iran conflict: France's Macron calls for end to strikes on civilians, says US offered to broker ceasefire

French President Emmanuel Macron on June 16 called for the strikes against civilians in Iran and Israel to end and warned that forcing a regime change in Tehran would be a “strategic error”, according to an AFP report.

Speaking to reporters at the G7 Summit in Canada after United States President Donald Trump left the event early amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region, Macron noted, “If the United States can achieve a ceasefire, that's a very good thing.”

Macron: ‘End strikes againt civilians’

The French leader called on Israel and Iran to halt strikes on civilians warning that trying to overthrow Tehran's clerical state would be a “strategic error”.

“All who have thought that by bombing from the outside you can save a country in spite of itself have always been mistaken,” Macron he said.

Donald Trump offered to broker ceasefire, says Macron

He added that during G7 discussions Donald Trump had made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Reuters reported.

“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions. We have to see now whether the sides will follow,” Macron said.

'Europe ready for serious negotiations with Iran'

Macron added that European partners are ready to take part in “serious” nuclear negotiations with Iran, if a ceasefire is reached.

Another Reuters report cited a French official to state that on June 16, Macron and Trump “spoke at length” on various issues, including US tariffs, the Ukraine crisis, and the situation in the middle-east.

The official did not give further details on the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Group of 7 leaders summit that took place at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, in western Canada.

(With inputs from Agencies)