France will hold an emergency defence cabinet meeting later today to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East after the United States launched air strikes on Iran, the French presidency has said, according to Reuters.

Macron, who spoke to several leaders, including the Saudi Crown Prince, on the issue, will hold further talks with European and regional leaders during the day, the French presidency said.

It added that everything would now be done to speed up the departure of French citizens who wished to leave Iran and Israel.