France: Iran is seeking to expand its military influence to the Mediterranean through Syria

Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of "regional ambitions" on Tuesday, December 12, stating that Paris cannot accept Iran expanding its military influence to the Mediterranean Sea. According to AFP, Mr. Le Drian referred to the role of Russia and Iran in assisting Bashar al-Assad to strengthen his position in the Syrian civil war, saying: "Russia provides air support and ground assistance, but Iran has sent armed militias and its supporters (the Hezbollah group from Lebanon) to Syria." Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, issued an order on Monday for the withdrawal of some of his country's troops from Syria, stating that a significant part of their mission has been accomplished. In an interview with France 2 television, to be broadcast on Tuesday evening, the French Foreign Minister specifically criticized the Iranian government for competing with Saudi Arabia over expanding its influence in the region. He stated: "We oppose Iran's presence in Syria and its goals to create a regional axis of influence from Tehran to the Mediterranean." Le Drian emphasized that any agreement regarding Syria's future must ensure that the country "remains independent and free from the pressure and presence of other countries." He remarked: "Russia and Iran are the main players in Syria. They must work alongside members of the UN Security Council to push for a political solution in the country." The French Foreign Minister referred to Bashar al-Assad, saying: "He is a savage, but he is in power, so we must initiate a process that leads to drafting a new constitution and holding elections under UN supervision." Le Drian added: "I do not think that the people who have suffered because of him would want him to be part of the solution." Tensions between Paris and Tehran have escalated in recent weeks, and previously, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, had urged Iran to abandon its aggressive policies in the region and cease its missile tests. The French Foreign Minister had previously expressed concern about Iran's involvement in the Syrian crisis. Tehran and Riyadh each support opposing factions in the Syrian and Yemeni wars and are also accused of influencing Lebanon's domestic politics according to their own objectives. Mr. Le Drian, in another comment after the French President's visit to Saudi Arabia in November, accused Iran of seeking to impose its hegemony in the region. In an angry response, Iran accused France of having a biased stance on regional crises and claimed that such positioning "could turn potential crises into real crises." Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to visit Iran in 2018. In this context, Macron called for dialogue with Iran regarding its presence in the region during his visit to Qatar. Netanyahu stated: Iran, by strengthening its military power in Syria, is seeking to destroy Israel. Mohammad Javad Zarif urged European countries to assist in continuing the JCPOA. AFP reported: The UN has yet to confirm the connection between the Houthis' missiles and Iran.