French Foreign Minister Warns of Dangers of Attacks on Iran's Energy Facilities

Foreign Minister of France, Jean-Noel Barrot, has once again affirmed his country’s stance rejecting attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Iran, amid escalating tensions due to threats from the United States (US).

In an interview with France Info on Tuesday (7/4), Barrot stated that such actions contravene international law and the rules of war.

“We continue to oppose attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure, first and foremost, because they are prohibited under the rules of war and international law,” he said, as reported by Anadolu on Tuesday (7/4).

He warned that attacks on vital sectors like energy could spark a new dangerous escalation. According to him, such steps could open a new phase of retaliatory escalation that risks dragging the region and the global economy into a vicious cycle.

Barrot also highlighted the direct impact on the economy, including rises in energy prices. He emphasised that if Iran’s energy facilities are attacked, retaliation from Tehran is likely, which could worsen the situation.

“For our own interests, we have already seen surges in fuel prices. If energy infrastructure in Iran is targeted, we can expect retaliation from the Iranian regime, which will further exacerbate the already worrying situation,” he stated.

Furthermore, he affirmed the position of France and European countries in seeking not to become directly involved in the conflict. However, they continue to strive to mitigate its impacts and support mediation efforts led by regional countries. Barrot also revisited France’s initial stance on the ongoing conflict.

“From the first day, we did not approve of the Israel-US intervention, which lacks sufficiently clear objectives and deviates from international law,” he concluded.