France urged Iran on Friday to help reduce escalation in the Middle East region. During a telephone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, outgoing French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne called on Iran to ask its major actor in the region to exercise "utmost self-restraint", French foreign ministry said in a statement. Sejourne said he conveyed a message calling for de-escalation to all main actors in the region during his recent tour to the Middle East. He affirmed France's commitment to being a reliable part of a political framework for peace and security in the region provided that Iran respects its international commitments. Source: Kuwait News Agency