PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron’s top diplomatic adviser travelled to Iran on Wednesday to hold talks with local officials as part of European efforts to reduce tensions in the Gulf region, a presidency official said.

“The diplomatic adviser did indeed travel to Iran on June 19...to hold high-level talks with the objective of contributing to a de-escalation of tensions in the region,” the official said, confirming information from two diplomatic sources.

The diplomat, Emmanuel Bonne, has been based in Iran in the past and is a Middle East expert.