ISTANBUL

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday that the attack launched by the US and Israel against Iran should have been debated beforehand, stressing that only by engaging with the UN Security Council can such use of force acquire legitimacy.

"The veto wielded by certain permanent members of the United Nations Security Council has paralyzed collective action, even when the use of force would have been necessary to uphold the law. Despite this, the intervention unilaterally decided by Israel and the United States of America deserved to be debated within the collective bodies established for that purpose," Barrot told a news briefing.

He said such use of force "can acquire the necessary legitimacy" only by engaging with the Security Council.

"It is deeply regrettable that this situation could not be resolved within the framework of international institutions, which are the only ones capable of laying the foundations for lasting peace and stability," Barrot underscored.

He expressed France's support and solidarity with the regional countries affected by Iran's retaliatory attacks.

"We stand ready to assist in their defense upon request, in a proportionate manner and in accordance with the principle of collective self-defense under international law," Barrot added.

He called for ceasing further military escalation "as quickly as possible."

"The indefinite continuation of military operations without a clear purpose carries the risk of a spiral that would draw Iran and the region into a prolonged period of instability, the outcome of which would be highly uncertain and would harm our interests," Barrot said.

The foreign minister also recalled that their top priority is the safety of French citizens, underlining that around 400,000 French nationals reside in or are visiting the countries affected by tensions across the Middle East.

Reaffirming that no French victims have been reported so far, he said French forces are already organized locally to facilitate departures by land where possible.

The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with a series of drone and missile attacks that targeted Israel, and US assets in several Gulf countries.

Iranian officials have refused calls to resume diplomacy after Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi proposed a fresh round of talks.

The US-Israeli attack came in the midst of indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman.

Israel and Iran also fought a 12-day war last year that the US briefly joined, targeting Tehran’s nuclear sites.