Macron urges de‑escalation in Middle East, calls for civilian infrastructure protection

Europe-Asia, International, Middle East, North America

INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — March 19, 2026 — French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the warring parties in the Middle East to open a path toward de‑escalation and restore stability in the region.

Macron, in a statement released Thursday, urged the immediate implementation of a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including water and energy facilities. He stressed that freedom and security of navigation must be restored, referencing the ongoing logjam in the Strait of Hormuz.

He emphasised that as the region enters a period of religious celebrations and renewal, tempers must cool and fighting must cease to allow for the prospect of a negotiated and sustainable solution.

Macron’s statement follows similar remarks by United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres, who urged the United States, Israel, and Iran to halt hostilities and pave the way for dialogue. 

Guterres warned that intensified attacks and counterattacks in Iran, Israel, and across the Gulf have already struck key energy installations, threatening both regional security and global energy supplies.