France has announced its readiness to assist Gulf countries and Jordan in defending themselves against Iran, as missile and drone strikes intensify across the region.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated on Monday that Paris stands in full solidarity with nations targeted in the latest wave of attacks attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Iran has launched multiple missile and drone strikes on Gulf states, claiming to target US military installations following coordinated US‑Israeli operations that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei over the weekend.
Barrot emphasized that France fully supports countries “deliberately targeted” and drawn into a conflict they did not initiate, specifically naming 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—under existing defense agreements and the principle of collective self-defense under international law—to assist its partners if necessary.
He also noted that around 400,000 French citizens reside in or are visiting Gulf nations, heightening France’s concern over the rapidly unfolding situation.
On Sunday, France, together with Germany and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to protect their interests and those of regional allies. The trio condemned Iran’s actions, highlighting the threat to allied nations, military personnel, and civilians, and said they could support “necessary and proportionate defensive action” to neutralize 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 escalated. Iran’s military said it deployed 15 cruise missiles targeting a US airbase in Kuwait and vessels in the Indian Ocean, signaling a widening theater of operations.
