French President Emmanuel Macron has said that France and its European partners would ramp up talks with Iran following more than a week of hostilities between the Islamic republic and Israel.

French, British, German and EU top diplomats held talks in Geneva on Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi aimed at de-escalating fighting between Israel and Iran a week after Israel started its bombardment.

They urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States to find a solution in the standoff over its nuclear programme, but Tehran warned it could only consider diplomacy once Israel halted its strikes.

On Saturday, Macron said talks will be stepped up in an effort to avoid greater conflict.

"I am convinced that a path exists to end war and avoid even greater dangers," Macron said in English on X after holding phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. 

Necessary guarantees

Macron reiterated that "Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons".

"It is up to Iran to provide full guarantees that its intentions are peaceful," he added.

But a senior Iranian official said the discussions and proposals made by the European powers to Iran over its nuclear programme in Geneva were unrealistic, and insisting on them will not bring both sides closer to an agreement.

"In any case, Iran will review the European proposals in Tehran and present its responses in the next meeting," a senior Iranian official told Reuters news agency.

He added that zero enrichment was a dead end and that Iran would not negotiate over its defensive capabilities, including its missile programme.

French hostages

Macron once again demanded that Iran must release French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been held since May 2022 on espionage charges their families reject.

"Their inhumane detention is unjust," Macron said. "I expect them to return to France."

Israel said Saturday it had killed three senior Iranian commanders in its bombing campaign across the Islamic Republic.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel’s military operation in Iran would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate Iran’s nuclear programme and arsenal of ballistic missiles. 

Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 400 people since they began last week, Iran's health ministry said in an updated toll on Saturday.

At least 24 people in Israel have been killed, Israeli officials say.