Istanbul (GNP): French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot has welcomed Pakistan’s ongoing mediation between Iran and the United States. He did so during a meeting in Istanbul with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
The two ministers met on 23 October 2026 on the sidelines of the E3/R4 format meeting. The French foreign ministry’s deputy spokesperson issued a statement on the same day.
Barrot used the meeting to acknowledge Pakistan’s role as a mediator. He also repeated France’s position that a diplomatic route must be found, one that deals lastingly with threats from Iran in the nuclear, ballistic and regional spheres.
From there, the talks widened. Dar and Barrot exchanged views on regional developments, though the statement gives no further detail on what was discussed.
Bilateral relations then took centre stage. Both ministers welcomed the eighth session of the France-Pakistan Joint Security Commission, which was held on 22 September 2026.
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They agreed to keep developing ties within the Roadmap for Bilateral Cooperation adopted in 2023. They named academic and cultural cooperation, and sustainable development, as particular areas of focus.
The meeting therefore tied together two threads. Pakistan’s mediation efforts on Iran received open recognition from Paris, and the two countries confirmed that their own partnership will continue on the track set in 2023.
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said, “a diplomatic solution that would sustainably address the threats emanating from Iran.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
