France ready to defend Gulf states and Jordan against Iran
Mar 2nd 2026
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France will help defend Gulf countries and Jordan after Iran launched missile and drone strikes following US and Israeli attacks.
- France says it stands ready to defend Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan after they were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones.
- Iran launched missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, with attacks reported in Dubai, Doha and Manama and Iran saying it fired 15 cruise missiles at a US air base in Kuwait and vessels in the Indian Ocean.
- France, Germany and the United Kingdom said they could enable defensive action to destroy Iran's capability to fire missiles and drones at their source.
- Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said US and Israeli strikes in Iran should have been debated at the United Nations Security Council to gain legitimacy.
- No French victims have been reported so far and Paris plans to help return an estimated 400,000 French citizens living in or visiting the Gulf when possible.
- President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Iraq's president and expressed support for efforts to avoid a wider regional escalation.