Iran slams France’s Macron over West Asia war stance

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday (March 19, 2026) criticised French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of failing to condemn Israel and the United States’ war with the Islamic republic, while voicing concern over Tehran’s retaliation.

Iran-Israel war on March 19, 2026

On Wednesday (March 18, 2026), Mr. Macron called for imposing a moratorium on strikes after Iran attacked Qatar’s key Ras Laffan facilities, part of the world’s largest gas field.

The strikes followed an attack on Iranian facilities in the same gas field, which it shares with Qatar.

“It is in our common interest to implement, without delay, a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure,” Mr. Macron said in a post on X, in which referenced calls with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Mr. Araghchi responded in post on X by accusing Mr. Macron of ignoring earlier U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

He said the French President “has not uttered one word of condemnation of the Israel-U.S. war on Iran”, and that he had failed to denounce strikes on fuel storages in Tehran on March 7.

“His current ‘concern’ didn’t follow Israel’s attack on our gas facilities. It follows our retaliation. Sad!” Mr. Araghchi said.

Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a war that has since engulfed the West Asia.

Iran has repeatedly warned it would target regional energy infrastructure if its own facilities are attacked.