France has declared it is prepared to assist Gulf nations and Jordan in defending themselves against Iran, as missile and drone attacks escalate across the region.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Monday that Paris stands in full solidarity with countries targeted in the latest wave of strikes attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Iran has launched multiple missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, saying it is targeting US military installations following coordinated US-Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei over the weekend.
Addressing the crisis, Barrot said France fully supports nations that were “deliberately targeted” and drawn into a conflict they did not initiate.
He specifically named Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan.
“France expresses its full support and complete solidarity,” he said, adding that Paris is ready, in line with existing defence agreements and the principle of collective self-defence under international law, to participate in protecting its partners if required.
Barrot noted that around 400,000 French citizens reside in or are currently visiting Gulf countries, heightening Paris’ concern over the unfolding security situation.
France, alongside Germany and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on Sunday reaffirming readiness to defend their interests and those of their regional allies.
The three countries condemned Iran’s actions, saying the attacks threatened allied nations, military personnel and civilians across the region. They added that they could support “necessary and proportionate defensive action” to neutralise Iran’s missile and drone capabilities at their source.
Fresh explosions were reported Monday in major Gulf cities, including Dubai, Doha, and Manama, as tensions intensified.
Iran’s military said it had deployed 15 cruise missiles targeting a US air base in Kuwait and vessels in the Indian Ocean, signalling a widening theatre of operations.
