France Ready to Defend Gulf States, Jordan

France is prepared to help defend Gulf countries and Jordan after they were targeted by Iranian airstrikes, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, Barrot said France stands in full solidarity with regional partners, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan. He said Paris is ready to act under existing defense agreements and the principle of collective self-defense.

Barrot noted that roughly 400,000 French citizens live in or are visiting countries across the region. So far, no French casualties have been reported, he said.

French authorities are also coordinating locally to facilitate land departures for nationals where possible, although evacuation options vary by country.

The minister called for an immediate de-escalation, warning that open-ended military operations without a clear objective risk pushing Iran and the broader region into prolonged instability.

He also criticized Hezbollah for entering the conflict, saying the move has had serious consequences for civilians in Lebanon. He urged the Iran-backed group to halt its operations immediately.

The comments come as regional tensions intensify following Iranian strikes, raising concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East.