Meeting Lapid, Macron calls 2015 nuclear deal ‘a good agreement’

Standing beside Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the Elysee Palace in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron calls the 2015 nuclear deal “a good agreement” that must be defended.

At the same time, Macron points out the threat of Iran’s ballistic missile program and its destabilizing activities in the region. “Our values are worth fighting for,” he says, adding that French and European security are at stake.

Macron, who embraced Lapid warmly before their statements, speaks at some length about the importance of reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians, saying that Lapid can be a “historical figure.”

Macron, speaking in French, calls for a deal that recognizes Palestinians’ “legitimate aspirations,” and emphasizes that there is “no alternative to a return to a political dialogue.”

He also stresses France’s interest in ensuring stability in Lebanon.