**French Foreign Minister Urges Iran to Make 'Major' Concessions** French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized the need for a long-term political solution in the Middle East, following the recent war. During a visit to Israel on 20 March 2026, Barrot stated that Iran must be prepared to make significant concessions, a "radical change of stance," as part of any lasting solution. Barrot's comments came as he met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Jerusalem. The two ministers discussed the ongoing conflict and the need for a political solution to complement the military operations. Barrot also repeated a call for Israel and Lebanon to engage in direct talks over ground operations targeting Hezbollah. This push for direct talks is part of a broader European effort to end hostilities between the two countries. **Direct Talks between Israel and Lebanon** As part of his Middle East tour, Barrot visited Beirut on 19 March 2026, where he expressed France's "reservations" about Israel's ground operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. He called on Israel to seize an "historic opportunity" and hold direct talks with Lebanese authorities after President Emmanuel Macron agreed to host negotiations. According to Barrot, the Lebanese government has signaled its openness to direct talks at the highest level with Israel. The call for direct talks comes as Lebanon has been drawn into the regional conflict. On 2 March 2026, Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel in response to the killing of its ally Iran's supreme leader in Israeli-US attacks. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes across Lebanon and ground incursions in the border area, resulting in over 1,000 deaths. On the Israeli side, two soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, according to the military. **France Increases Emergency Aid to Lebanon** As the conflict continues to unfold, France has tripled its emergency aid to Lebanon, with over 700,000 people displaced. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has proposed a four-point initiative calling for a "full truce" with guarantees for its success. Aoun also stressed the necessity of a ceasefire, which he believes can be achieved through the efforts of the parties concerned. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called on the European Union to list Hezbollah "in its entirety as a terrorist organization," rather than just its military wing.