2026-03-02 11:23
publication
2026-03-02 11:23
France is ready to participate in the defense of Middle Eastern countries affected by Iran's attacks, in accordance with the agreements that bind France with these countries, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday. He assured Paris's solidarity with these countries.
“France expresses its full support and solidarity with friendly countries that have been deliberately targeted by (Iran's) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missiles and drones and have been drawn into a war they did not choose,” Barrot said. He mentioned: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the US and Israel made a unilateral decision to intervene in Iran. He assessed that these attacks should have become a topic of debate in relevant institutions, e.g. the UN. He recalled that the use of force can only be legitimate within the framework of decisions made by the UN Security Council.
Barrot emphasized that there are no reports so far that French citizens were among the victims. He provided the number of French citizens living in or passing through 12 countries in the region – it is almost 400,000. people.
– We have already organized our system locally to facilitate trips by land where possible, but this is not the case in all countries – said the minister.
He called for military de-escalation as soon as possible and warned that extending military operations without a precise goal and for an indefinite period of time creates a risk of a slippery slope that would plunge Iran and the countries of the region into a long period of instability.
From Paris Anna Wróbel (PAP)
awl/ akl/
