Asger Risom
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned any military push to topple Iran’s regime, warning at the G7 summit that it would plunge the region into instability akin to Iraq and Libya.
As Western powers weigh their response to escalating Israeli-Iranian hostilities, French President Emmanuel Macron has firmly opposed any attempt to overthrow Iran’s regime through force, warning such a move would spark uncontrollable chaos across the Middle East.
A Stark Warning at the G7
Speaking on the final day of the G7 summit in Canada, Macron called potential regime change in Iran “the biggest mistake we could make right now,” stressing that forced intervention would unleash “chaos” with no clear successor in sight.
“No one knows what would follow,” Macron said, adding that France “does not support regional destabilization.”
His remarks, as reported by HotNews.ro, drew direct parallels to the disastrous aftermaths of regime overthrows in Iraq and Libya.
“Does anyone still believe what happened in Iraq in 2003 was a good idea? Or Libya? Of course not,” Macron stated, pushing back against what he called “repeatable strategic errors.”
Israeli Ambitions and U.S. Speculation
Macron’s comments come amid strong hints from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that strikes on Iran could lead to regime change.
Netanyahu said Israel’s objective was to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile threats, but he also encouraged Iranians to “rise up” and “seize their freedom.”
In the U.S., President Donald Trump is reportedly considering direct military involvement, possibly targeting Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility.
Trump has oscillated between calling for negotiations and threatening Iran’s leadership with public ultimatums.
On Truth Social, he warned Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is a “target,” though not one he intends to strike “for now.”
Tensions Between Macron and Trump
Macron’s opposition to intervention drew fire from Trump, who accused him of misleading the public about ceasefire talks.
Macron, however, dismissed the criticism, calling it “an incident” and affirming that his relationship with Trump remains strong.
“I’m not affected by it,” Macron said, while subtly reaffirming that Trump had previously spoken about a ceasefire plan.
“There’s clearly been a change in opinion. But I’m not responsible for America’s change of mind,” he concluded.