France's Macron says Iran responsible for destabilising region
French President Emmanuel Macron holds a press conference, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Friday, June 13, 2025. Michel Euler/Pool via REUTERS
PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Iran bore a heavy responsibility for destabilisation of the Middle East and that it had pushed ahead with an unjustified nuclear programme, but he also urged restraint after Israel struck Iran.
After a day of talks with regional and international leaders following Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets, notably its nuclear sites, Macron said Tehran was close to a "critical point" in acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Iran has consistently denied seeking one.
"Iran bears a very heavy responsibility for the destabilisation of the region," Macron said.
"Iran is continuing to enrich uranium without any civilian justification and to levels that are very close to what is needed for a nuclear device," he said.
While he urged restraint, Macron acknowledged that resuming diplomatic efforts, specifically U.S. negotiations on a nuclear deal with Iran that started two months ago, would be difficult.
"The current situation has a risk of uncontrolled escalation," he said, adding that Iran's activities threatened Europe.
Warning of a possible impact on the global economy, Macron said France would defend Israel if it was attacked by Iran as it had done in the past, but he ruled out taking part in any operation against Tehran.
France and Israel, traditionally close allies, have had frosty relations in recent months with Macron increasingly critical over Israel's war in Gaza.
Macron said France's support for Israel was not unconditional and that Paris has the right to disagree with some Israeli government decisions because "they are sometimes against Israel's security interests." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump says ‘war in Israel-Iran should end'
Mr Trump's comments mark the first time he has explicitly called for an end to hostilities between Washington's ally Israel and its Middle East rival Iran since Israel began striking Iran on June 13. PHOTO: REUTERS WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on June 14 'this war in Israel-Iran should end,' with his comments coming in a social media post on his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Key quote 'The call (between Trump and Putin) lasted approximately 1 hour. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,' Mr Trump said, on Truth Social. Why it's important Mr Trump's comments mark the first time he has explicitly called for an end to hostilities between Washington's ally Israel and its Middle East rival Iran since Israel began striking Iran late on June 12 US time and early on June 13 Middle East time. Iran launched its own retaliatory strikes against Israel and the hostilities have raised alarm in a region already on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. Iranian officials have said dozens have been killed in Israel's attacks while Iran's missile volleys killed at least three in Israel on June 13, according to Israeli officials. Context Mr Trump said he and Mr Putin mostly discussed the Middle East and spent 'much less time' talking about Russia's war in Ukraine. Mr Trump hinted at follow up discussions on the war in Ukraine in the coming week and said in his post that he told Mr Putin that Moscow's war in Ukraine should also end. Mr Trump had promised to end the world's hottest conflicts during his election campaign but nearly five months into his second term, with Israel attacking Iran and bloodshed in Gaza and Ukraine unabated, those promises have not yet been met. The Kremlin separately also confirmed the Trump-Putin call and said they discussed the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump says 'war in Israel-Iran should end'
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday "this war in Israel-Iran should end," with his comments coming in a social media post on his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. KEY QUOTE "The call (between Trump and Putin) lasted approximately 1 hour. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end," Trump said on Truth Social. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Trump's comments mark the first time he has explicitly called for an end to hostilities between Washington's ally Israel and its Middle East rival Iran since Israel began striking Iran late on Thursday U.S. time and early Friday Middle East time. Iran launched its own retaliatory strikes against Israel and the hostilities have raised alarm in a region already on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. Iranian officials have said dozens have been killed in Israel's attacks while Iran's missile volleys killed at least three in Israel on Friday, according to Israeli officials. CONTEXT Trump said he and Putin mostly discussed the Middle East and spent "much less time" talking about Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump hinted at follow up discussions on the war in Ukraine in the coming week and said in his post that he told Putin that war in Ukraine should also end. Trump had promised to end the world's hottest conflicts during his election campaign but nearly five months into his second term, with Israel attacking Iran and bloodshed in Gaza and Ukraine unabated, those promises have not yet been met. The Kremlin separately also confirmed the Trump-Putin call and said they discussed the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Israel army says struck underground missile facility in western Iran
Israel's air strikes on Iran began in the early hours of June 13, and have so far killed more than 20 Iranian army and Revolutionary Guards commanders. PHOTO: REUTERS JERUSALEM - The Israeli military said it struck an underground facility on June 14 in western Iran's Khorramabad that contained surface-to-surface and cruise missiles. 'This is an important site that was even featured in a propaganda video by the Iranian regime in the past,' military spokesman Effie Defrin told journalists. Brigadier-General Defrin was likely referring to footage aired by Iran's Revolutionary Guards earlier this year showing what it described as a new underground missile facility. 'It was struck and the senior officials associated with it have also been eliminated,' Brig-Gen Defrin said, adding that 'dozens of other such sites have also been destroyed'. The military said the site contained 'storage tunnels for surface-to-surface missiles and cruise missiles as well as multiple launch shafts'. Iranian media reported strikes on Lorestan province, where Khorramabad is located, on June 14. Earlier on June 14, Israel said its air strikes on Iran, which began in the early hours of June 13, have so far killed more than 20 Iranian army and Revolutionary Guards commanders, including armed forces chief Mohammad Bagheri. The strikes have also killed nine nuclear scientists and experts, the military said. Iran said at least 78 people have been killed. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
