France is ready to help Gulf countries targeted by Iran

March 2, 2026 5:02 AM EST

France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot holds a crisis meeting, in Paris, Monday, March 2, 2026. Thibault Camus/Pool via REUTERS

PARIS, March 2 (Reuters) - ‌France is ​ready ​to help Gulf countries targeted by Iranian retaliatory strikes, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot ‌said on Monday, adding that the Israeli ⁠and U.S. initial strikes against Iran should have been ‌debated beforehand at the ‌United Nations.

"Regarding more specifically our partners in the region who have been targeted, deliberately aimed at ​by the Iranian regime, we stand ready to contribute to their defense," Barrot told ⁠reporters after chairing a crisis meeting at the Foreign Ministry in ​Paris.

"Based on their request, in a proportionate manner and in accordance with the principle ​of collective self-defence provided ‌for under international law," he added.

Referring to Israel and the United States' initial ⁠assault on Iran on Saturday, he said their "unilateral strikes" could have gained the legitimacy needed only by ⁠going before the U.N. Security Council.

However, he called on ​Iran to end its attacks and to resign itself to major concessions to achieve a political solution leading to ‌peace in the region.

No French victims have been reported despite a drone ‌attack against a French naval base in Abu ⁠Dhabi on Sunday that ‌caused limited damage, ​according to Barrot.

(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Makini Brice and Barbara ‌Lewis)



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