ISTANBUL 

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that France 'was neither informed nor involved' in the operations of the Israeli and US strikes on Iran.

As Macron convened a National Defense and Security Council meeting at the Elysee Palace following the start of the attacks, he stressed that Paris had played no role in the organization of the operation.

“France was neither informed nor involved” in the strikes, he said.

“Our absolute priority is obviously the safety of our citizens,” Macron added, noting that France stands “alongside all the countries that are currently affected by the Iranian response.”

“We must increase our efforts to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels, because no one can believe that the issue of Iranian nuclear power, ballistic missile activity, and regional destabilization will be resolved simply through strikes,” he added.

Israel and the US launched an attack against Iran early Saturday, citing alleged threats posed by the "Iranian regime."

The attacks came as talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program had been ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday.

Israel also initiated a 12-day war on Iran last June, with the US joining later and bombing three Iranian nuclear sites.