UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK — France’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, has welcomed the newly brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel, calling it a critical opportunity to restart diplomatic dialogue, particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking during a UN Security Council briefing on Tuesday, Ambassador Bonnafont described the ceasefire as a “necessary pause” in a dangerously escalating conflict and urged all parties to embrace diplomacy over confrontation.
“We welcome the ceasefire and believe it must create room for dialogue to resume,” Bonnafont stated. “The crisis around Iran’s nuclear programme can only be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means.”
His comments come after days of intense crossfire between Iran and Israel, triggered by reported missile attacks and retaliatory strikes, some of which allegedly targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The brief ceasefire, mediated by the United States, has been cautiously received by the international community amid fears of further destabilisation in the Middle East.
Bonnafont reaffirmed France’s and the European Union’s commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal—despite the 2018 withdrawal of the United States under former President Donald Trump.
“France, alongside the EU, continued to honour its commitments under the JCPOA, even after the U.S. exit. Our objective remains to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to ensure regional stability,” Bonnafont added.
He reiterated that any military approach toward resolving the nuclear issue would only deepen hostilities and pose a wider threat to international peace.
The French envoy called on both Iran and Israel to exercise restraint and for all signatories of the JCPOA, including Russia and China, to re-engage meaningfully in diplomatic efforts. He also called for full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to restore transparency and oversight of Iran’s nuclear activities.
