Necva Taştan Sevinç
20 June 2025•Update: 20 June 2025
ISTANBUL
French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that “nothing justifies strikes on civil infrastructure or civilian populations,” urging all parties to prioritize diplomacy over military escalation amid growing tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Macron said the continuing attacks, particularly on energy and civilian infrastructure, must be halted immediately.
“Nothing justifies the strikes on civil infrastructure or civilian populations. Absolutely nothing,” Macron stated.
He warned that such actions carry significant risks of escalation, saying: “We must all be extremely vigilant, serious, and get back around the negotiating table.”
Macron reaffirmed France’s longstanding stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“No one should underestimate the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran,” he said, recalling France’s role in negotiating the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
He stressed that military operations alone cannot resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
“There are extremely protected facilities, and no one can definitively say where the 65% of the enriched uranium is,” he said.
“This is why technical expertise and negotiations are essential," he added.
- ‘Comprehensive diplomatic, technical offer’
Macron said that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot would meet his British, German, and Iranian counterparts in Geneva to present “a comprehensive diplomatic and technical offer” that aims for zero uranium enrichment, limits Iran’s ballistic capabilities, restricts financing of proxy groups, and secures the release of hostages.
"This is a matter of sovereignty, industry, and strategic importance,” he said.
Iran must show its willingness to return to the negotiating table, he further added.
He added that France would also push ahead with the European IRIS² satellite constellation project, supported by the French firm Eutelsat, to ensure Europe’s independence in space communications.
Macron also linked the security situation in the region to the ongoing war in Gaza, saying: “A ceasefire is urgently needed, for humanitarian reasons and for regional security. The resumption of humanitarian aid and political dialogue is essential.”
Reaffirming France’s position, he added: “Israel’s security is a strategic issue for France, and Iran remains an existential threat to Israel. But that does not justify continued strikes against civilian infrastructure and populations.”
Macron said he would soon speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for resuming political and diplomatic efforts to avoid further destabilization.
He concluded by announcing a forthcoming debate in the French parliament under Article 50, followed by consultations with political parties on Iran, Gaza, and Ukraine after the upcoming NATO Summit.
