PARIS, Aug 11 (KUNA) -- French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone call late Friday with his US counterpart Donald Trump to discuss specifically Gulf and Middle East issues, Macron's office announced early Saturday.
The call was held at the request of the French President to notably discuss "the situation in Syria, relations with Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian file," the Elysee Palace said.
Paris stressed that the discussion between the French and US leaders was a follow up to the exchanges they have had in the past weeks and "to prepare for diplomatic consultations in the coming days." The conversation comes on the heels of growing violence in Syria and a spike in clashes and military operations opposing Israel and Hamas on the border with Gaza.
In addition, the contact between Macron and Trump is the first since the US President decided to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran after the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran in which France, Russia, China, Britain and Germany were also signatories and remain so. (end) jk.hb