French Foreign Minister Urges Iran to Open Talks With U.S. for Crisis Resolution.

French Foreign Minister Urges Iran to Open Talks With U.S. for Crisis Resolution.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has called on Iran to engage in talks with the U.S. to de-escalate the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Barrot's statement comes amidst escalating tensions, with Israel intensifying its military operations against Iran and crude oil prices experiencing significant volatility [1].

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israel's military to intensify attacks on "strategic targets" in Iran and "government targets" in Tehran, aiming to undermine the ayatollah's regime [1]. This escalation followed an Iranian missile strike on a major hospital in Beersheba, which led Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz to threaten Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [1].

Meanwhile, oil prices have been highly volatile in response to the conflict. Crude oil futures rose more than 1% on Thursday after Netanyahu's announcement, with U.S. crude oil and global benchmark Brent both increasing by over 11% since Israel began its military operation [1]. However, oil prices fell more than 3% on Friday as President Donald Trump held off on striking Iran's nuclear program, citing potential negotiations [3].

Barrot emphasized that diplomacy is the only way to prevent the Iranian nuclear program from becoming an existential threat to Israel and Europe. Germany, France, and the UK have offered immediate talks with Iran to de-escalate the situation [2].

The potential for regime change in Iran, a major OPEC producer, could have profound implications for global oil prices. JPMorgan warned that further destabilization could lead to significantly higher oil prices sustained over extended periods [1].

As the situation remains fluid, investors and financial professionals should closely monitor developments in the Middle East and their potential impact on global oil markets.

References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/19/oil-prices-israel-iran-trump-ayatollah-khamenei.html
[2] https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2025/06/15/iran-nuclear-program-is-a-threat-for-israel-and-europe-says-french-foreign-minister-
[3] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/20/oil-prices-brent-wti-iran-israel-trump.html