PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday discussed a proposal to forge a new deal on Iran nuclear activities.

According to a statement by the French presidency, Macron in a phone conversation informed Netanyahu about "the steps taken" to make progress in dialogue over issues related to Tehran's weapons programs after the United States threatened to end the 2015 Iran deal.

Addressing security amid continued fatal clashes in the Gaza strip, the French president stressed the need to ensure regional security and avoid escalation while reiterating the need to guarantee security of Israel.