France condemns US-Israeli strikes on Iran, calls for de-escalation

France "cannot approve" strikes by US and Israeli forces on Iran as they are being carried out outside international law and without clearly defined objectives, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday. Speaking on France 2, Barrot stated that the strikes lacked clear strategic goals and did not comply with international legal standards, marking a significant divergence between Paris and its traditional allies.

France's position

Barrot stressed that France is not involved in the conflict. "We do not approve of this war, and we are not participating in it," he said, reinforcing President Emmanuel Macron's earlier declaration that France is "not waging war" in the Middle East. The comments distance Paris from the US-Israeli campaign, now in its 12th day, which has killed more than 1,200 people including Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Call for Iranian change

The foreign minister also called for rapid de-escalation in the Middle East, urging Iran to change its regional posture. "We expect Iran to renounce being a destabilizing and dangerous power," he said, adding that Tehran must commit to "a radical change of posture and major concessions" to pave the way for a lasting solution in the region. His remarks balance criticism of US-Israeli actions with pressure on Iran.

Strait of Hormuz initiative

Barrot noted that several countries have shown interest in participating in an international defensive mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, an initiative recently mentioned by President Macron. According to the minister, potential participants include "a number of European countries but also countries in the region." The strait, through which 20 million barrels of oil pass daily, has seen intense military activity, including US destruction of Iranian mine-laying vessels and ongoing disruptions to global energy trade.