Emmanuel Macron: We Must Counter Iran's Destabilizing Actions in the Middle East

The President of France, in a phone conversation with the King of Saudi Arabia, criticized Iran's 'destabilizing' actions in the Middle East and condemned the ballistic missile launch by the Houthis from Yemen towards Riyadh. According to a report published by the Saudi Press Agency and echoed by regional media, the phone call between Emmanuel Macron and King Salman took place on Sunday, December 24. The 'Al-Arabiya' website reported that the French President expressed the solidarity and support of the people of France for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against security threats from the Houthi militants of Yemen, who recently targeted Riyadh with a ballistic missile. Saudi Arabia and the United States claim that Iran has equipped the Houthi militia with missiles, an allegation that Tehran denies. According to these reports, Mr. Macron also emphasized the need for cooperation to counter Iran's 'destabilizing' actions in the region. He reiterated France's clear stance regarding Iran's 'destructive role' and 'support for the Houthi militants,' which Paris claims have been provided with ballistic missile technology to target Saudi Arabia and disrupt regional stability. The French President also appreciated Saudi Arabia's and King Salman's efforts to combat terrorism and eliminate their financial sources, including participation in the 'Sahel Coalition' in Africa. Despite the expansion of economic relations between Tehran and Paris since the signing of the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers in July 2015, France has voiced strong criticisms against the activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Middle East and Tehran's missile program since Emmanuel Macron took office. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, accused Iran of 'regional ambitions' on December 12, stating that Paris cannot accept Tehran expanding its military influence to the Mediterranean Sea. On November 16, he also stated in Riyadh that France is concerned about Iran's 'interventions' and 'hegemonic intentions' in the region. On December 6, U.S. President Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron emphasized the necessity of countering Iran's destabilizing activities in Syria during a phone call. Iran, in a furious response, accused France of having a biased stance in dealing with regional crises and claimed that such positioning 'could turn potential crises into real crises.' While tensions between the two countries continue, Emmanuel Macron stated that he intends to visit Iran in 2018. Meanwhile, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, reacted to Mr. Macron's statements on Monday, saying that 'the primary source of this news is Saudi Arabia, and no information has been published about this in Paris or on the website of the French Foreign Ministry.' However, he responded to these remarks, stating, 'French officials sometimes fall under the influence of the insinuations of our adversaries and those who promote Iranophobia and take positions based on incorrect information about certain issues, which is not a correct action.' According to the IRIB news agency, affiliated with the Iranian state radio and television, this Foreign Ministry official also commented on the timing of the French President's trip to Tehran and the reasons for the delay in this visit, saying, 'Mr. Macron's trip is on the agenda, but no time has been set for it, so there has been no delay.'