French President Emmanuel Macron said the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which began on Saturday and reportedly led to the assassination of the country's supreme leader, were carried out "outside international law." He stressed that France cannot approve of these actions.
In a speech on national television, Macron nevertheless accused Iran of escalating tensions in the Middle East. His critical stance on the attacks could create tensions with the United States.
The debate in Europe has also been heated after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's decision to declare the war illegal and to ban the use of Spanish bases by US aircraft for operations against Iran. This decision prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten to cut off trade with Spain.
While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not publicly defend Sánchez during a White House conference where Trump made the threat, Macron appears to be moving closer to Spain's position on the illegality of the war.
The French president warned that the conflict could be protracted and there is no end in sight. According to him, attacks on Iran could continue to weaken Tehran's counterattack capacity, while Iran is expected to continue strikes in the region.
To protect French interests in the Middle East, Macron announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean, along with fighter jets and air defense systems.
He also confirmed that France has sent anti-missile systems to Cyprus and stressed that Paris must respect defense commitments with allies such as Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, where about 800 French soldiers are stationed.
Macron also said that Iranian drones struck a French naval base in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, causing no injuries. Meanwhile, French fighter jets have been conducting patrols over the Emirates to ensure airspace security.
