Macron says forcing regime change in Iran would be 'strategic mistake'

ISTANBUL

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Tuesday that attempting to change the Iranian “regime” by force would be a “strategic mistake” and called for an immediate end to strikes targeting civilians in both Iran and Israel.

Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in Canada, Macron cautioned against external military interventions, saying such actions have consistently failed to bring stability.

“Those who believe that bombing from the outside can save a country despite itself and against itself have always been wrong,” he said.

He also strongly condemned attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure.

"It is absolutely essential that all strikes carried out on both sides, against energy, administrative and cultural infrastructure, and especially against civilians, must stop. Nothing justifies them and they are absolutely intolerable," he added.

The G7 communique issued the same day labeled Iran "the main source of instability and terrorism in the region" amid growing tensions over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the day as well, Macron repeated his stance on a “regime” change in Iran and called for the resumption of discussions.

"We do not want Iran to acquire nuclear weapons or to develop its ballistic capabilities, but I believe the greatest mistake today would be to seek regime change in Iran by military means — because that would bring chaos. And so the responsibility we have is to resume discussions as quickly as possible in order to restore a framework for dealing with both the nuclear issue and the ballistic missile issue," he said.

Calling for "de-escalation" and a "return to stability" in the region, he noted that the US needs to help bring everyone back to the negotiating table.

"President (Donald) Trump — with whom I have the best possible relations, both during his first term and today — has done one thing: each time, he tries to achieve peace. That’s what he says, and I have never seen him join in military operations. So I do think that he is trying to apply pressure in this situation," he added.

Asked about Trump's criticism of him over a claim regarding his early departure from the Group of Seven summit in Canada, Macron called it a "twist."

Trump denied Macron’s claim that he left the summit to work on an Israel-Iran ceasefire, calling Macron a "publicity seeking" president and saying the reason for his return to Washington was unrelated and “much bigger.”

"It’s just another twist. It’s not the first, and it won’t be the last. He’s used extremely friendly words, but he has wanted to reintroduce some ambiguity in his position. Very well. He has said that he is therefore not going to discuss a ceasefire. That doesn’t move me — because I know him and because we have a longstanding relationship," Macron said.

He underscored that he was "not responsible" for the changes in the position of the American administration, stressing that a ceasefire was "especially" mentioned by Trump the previous day.

"Today, our priorities in the region are clear: an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, the resumption of humanitarian aid and the restart of a political process — which is the only way forward for Gaza — and a ceasefire as quickly as possible regarding Iran, a resumption of talks," he said.

Regional tensions have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.