French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) poses for photos with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (1st L) during a welcome ceremony in Paris, France, on June 17, 2019. During a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said he regretted Iran's decision to surpass the allowed uranium enrichment limit, but vowed to reinforce diplomatic efforts, with his partners, to find a path of dialogue and avoid escalation in the region. (Xinhua/Jack Chan)
"I regret the Iranian announcements made today, but as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has underlined, Iran is respecting its commitments and we strongly encourage it to be patient and responsible," Macron told reporters.
"I think all forms of escalation do not go in the right direction and will damage Iran itself and the international community," he said during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
"So, we will do everything with our partners to dissuade Iran and find a path to a possible path for dialogue," he added.
Asked about last week's attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, that Washington blamed Tehran to be behind, Macron said "only once all the information has been gathered and all the doubts lifted can the attributions (of blame) be made in a certain way."
"I think that in the period that we are entering into it is useful to show calm," he added.
Earlier on Monday, Iran said it will exceed from June 27 the uranium stockpile limit set under the nuclear deal it agreed with world powers in 2015, in response to the United States' decision to unilaterally pull out of the agreement last year and reimpose sanctions.
