France Warns: Expansion of War in the Region Will Place Heavy Responsibility on Iran

Catherine Colonna, the French Foreign Minister, warned on Thursday, November 16, during a meeting with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, that the escalation of the Gaza conflict in the region would place a heavy responsibility on the Islamic Republic. In a statement from the French Foreign Ministry, Ms. Colonna reminded that everyone must condemn the 'terrorist attacks' by Hamas against Israel on October 6 'in the strongest terms.' According to the head of French diplomacy, there should be no ambiguity in this regard, and terrorist actions against civilians are unjustifiable and unacceptable. She also emphasized France's commitment to ensuring Israel's security and its right to defend itself and its citizens in a targeted and proportionate manner, in accordance with humanitarian law. Catherine Colonna stated that all necessary actions must be taken to save civilians and ensure access to humanitarian aid. The French Foreign Minister warned her Iranian counterpart that the intensification or expansion of the Gaza conflict to the region, 'especially Lebanon,' would place a heavy responsibility on the Islamic Republic. France has the largest Jewish community in Europe, and thousands of French-Israeli dual citizens live in Israel. The statement from the French Foreign Ministry also noted that Catherine Colonna called for the immediate release of four French citizens imprisoned in Iran, who, according to her, are in very concerning conditions. Although some dual nationals and foreign citizens detained by the Islamic Republic in recent months have been released from Iranian prisons and returned to their countries, several, including the four French citizens, remain in Iranian prisons. Cecile Couler, a French teacher and union activist, and her husband Jacques Pari, as well as Louis Arnaud, are three of the four detained French citizens in Iran. Little information is available about the identity of the fourth individual. The Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry account on X media also published a photo from the meeting of the Iranian and French foreign ministers, stating that both sides exchanged views on the 'current developments in Gaza' and 'expressed their perspectives on the dimensions of the crisis and ways to end it.' The Islamic Republic supports the two militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Additionally, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Honduras, the United States, and several other countries recognize Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. There is an 'urgent' need for fuel in Gaza; France has sent a 'helicopter carrier' to the eastern Mediterranean. Macron called for an international coalition to combat 'terrorist groups in the region' in Israel. France: There is no evidence of 'direct intervention' by the Islamic Republic in Hamas's attacks on Israel. Macron: The Islamic Republic's officials' praise for Hamas is 'unacceptable.' Hezbollah launched eight missiles at Israel. Hezbollah used new weapons in the war against Israel; Nasrallah: Pressure on Israel will continue.