On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused French President Emmanuel Macron of trying to deflect responsibility for France’s ongoing unrest after previously expressing support for U.S. military action against Iran.
Iran’s Araghchi Calls Out Macron Over France Protests
In a post on X, Araghchi responded to Macron’s remarks linking rising fuel prices and public discontent in France to the U.S. war against Iran.
Araghchi shared Macron’s January message to President Donald Trump, which expressed support for action against Tehran, arguing that the French leader helped create the conditions he now criticizes.
The Iranian foreign minister said it was too late for Macron to shift responsibility onto the conflict after previously welcoming military action against Iran.
“Mr. Macron made his bed when he assured POTUS that he welcomes atrocities against Iranians,” he wrote.
He also pointed to demands from French demonstrators for fundamental changes, including guarantees of the right to peaceful assembly.
“Listen to the future of France, Mr. President,” Araghchi wrote.
Macron Links Fuel Price Pressures to Iran War
On Sunday night, Macron commented on protests that have continued across France for three weeks, noting that peaceful demonstrators should not be equated with looters and rioters.
Addressing rising fuel prices, Macron pointed to developments in the Persian Gulf and the war against Iran, while maintaining that France was not involved in the conflict.
His comments came after the French Interior Ministry said nearly 2,400 people were arrested Saturday amid some of the country’s worst urban violence in years, with almost 1,000 police officers and gendarmes injured, seven of them seriously, France 24 reported.
French authorities imposed curfews in parts of Paris, Lille and Nice on Monday, facing mounting scrutiny over security failures following a weekend of riots and looting linked to nationwide anti-government protests, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, WTI crude oil rose 0.24% to $103.91 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 0.36% to $109.94 per barrel at the time of writing.
Iran Warns of Consequences of Foreign Policy
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei also criticized Macron’s remarks, arguing that countries that contribute to conflicts abroad must consider the potential consequences at home.
“Now that the cycle of crisis has knocked on your own door – and as the cry of ‘no kings’ echoes across America – it might be wise to remember that history does not merely sit by the window opened by sinister alliances,” he wrote on X.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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