Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need to end the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Macron stated in a post that he "confirmed to the Iranian president that ensuring the safety and return of the French citizens (C©cile Kohler and Jacques Paris) currently at the French embassy is a top priority for Paris."

The French president added that he "stressed during the call the necessity for Iran to immediately cease its attacks against countries in the region," calling on Tehran to "guarantee freedom of international navigation by ending the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz."

Macron noted in his post that "a diplomatic solution has become an urgent necessity to confront these challenges, halt the escalation, and maintain global peace," indicating "an agreement to continue communication between the two sides."