French, Iranian FMs meet in Beijing, stress expansion of ties

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna met in Beijing on Thursday evening, taking advantage of the simultaneous presence of the high-ranking delegations of the two countries in China.

Various issues of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest were discussed and exchanged.

The two sides also conferred on some consular issues and emphasized the necessity of mutual respect and continuation of joint dialogues.

France supports both Israel and Lebanon amid cross-border violence

The French Foreign Ministry has given its "unwavering" support for both “Israel’s security and Lebanon's stability and sovereignty" after Israel responded with strikes to rockets launched from positions inside Lebanon.

Israeli-Palestinian tensions are running high following two nights of raids by Israeli police at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, earlier this week.

Police beat Palestinian worshippers, arresting and removing hundreds of people from the compound.

On Friday, Paris called on all parties to show maximum restraint and avoid any action liable to lead to an escalation.