The defence council brought together ministers and senior officials to discuss the situation inIranand theMiddle East, the lyse said. The meeting also addressed the return of two French nationals, Ccile Kohler and Jacques Paris, freed by Iran.
France earlier warned against further escalation in the conflict.
Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot on Tuesday saidFranceis firmly opposed to strikes on civilian structures, wherever they occur, warning such action would push the region into a new phase of escalation.
The ceasefire is meant to halt fighting for two weeks while negotiations take place, but there are conflicting accounts over when it will begin and how it will be applied. The agreement also includes reopening theStrait of Hormuz, whose disruption to oil shipments drove up global energy prices.
Pakistan, which helped mediate the deal, is set to host talks from Friday in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the deal applied across the region.
I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and theUnited Statesof America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere includingLebanonand elsewhere, effective immediately, he wrote on X.
However Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahusaid the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, where operations againstHezbollahcontinued on Wednesday morning.
How the Middle East war is impacting humanitarian aid to Africa
Relief and caution
European leaders reacted with cautious optimism but stressed the need for a lasting settlement.
I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world, said British Prime MinisterKeir Starmerin a statement.
Starmers office said he would travel to the Middle East for talks with Gulf partners on ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains permanent.
Oman, which had been mediating indirect talks, also welcomed the ceasefire and called for intensifying efforts to resolve the crisis.
Germanyvoiced support for continued diplomacy. The aim now must be to negotiate a lasting end to the war in the coming days, saidFriedrich Merz. This can only be achieved through diplomatic channels.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha praised the deal and used it to call for similar action against Russias war inUkraine, saying on social media that American decisiveness works.
UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres called on all parties to abide by the terms of the ceasefire to pave the way towards a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region, his spokesman said.
Iraq turns to Turkey for oil exports as Middle East war reshapes routes
Terms and tensions
However, key details of the agreement remain unclear, with differing accounts from the parties involved.
US PresidentDonald Trumpsaid he agreed to suspend attacks after Iran proposed what he described as a workable plan, before later calling it fraudulent without elaborating.
He had earlier warned that A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.
Iran said ships would be allowed through the strait under military supervision and could be charged fees. A regional official told the Associated Press that both Iran and Oman would collect those fees, with Tehran expected to use the money for reconstruction.
(with newswires)
Originally published on RFI
