Minister of Foreign Affairs warns against striking civilian infrastructures in Iran

Published: April 7, 2026 at 07:53

Last Updated: April 7, 2026 at 08:24

Reading Time: 2 minutes – Video: 20 minutes

On franceinfo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs warned that striking civilian infrastructures would “open a new phase of escalation and retaliation.”

“We oppose any strike on civilian infrastructures” in Iran, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, on franceinfo on Tuesday, April 7, in response to Donald Trump’s threats to strike civilian sites and energy infrastructures if the Iranian regime did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The minister also called for the reopening of this strait, the blockade of which is paralyzing the global economy.

According to Jean-Noël Barrot, striking civilian infrastructures “would open a new phase of escalation and retaliation (…) which would worsen an already worrying situation.” “The risk is to witness an uncontrollable regional escalation,” he also said, while warning against the risks of a ground operation.

According to Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s role in this Middle East conflict is to “limit the consequences” and “support the mediation efforts” led by the region’s countries. “Europe’s vocation is to show that there is an alternative to the domination of new empires,” he added. “It is a war that we did not choose and whose consequences we must manage.”

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs was also asked about Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, the two French nationals under house arrest at the French embassy in Tehran after being imprisoned for several years. “They are holding up, in extremely challenging conditions,” he said, while once again calling for their “definite release.”