France Clarifies Position: No Offensive Arms Supplied to ‘israel’ Amid Conflict with Iran

French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin has clarified that the French government is not providing offensive weaponry to Israel in the context of ongoing hostilities involving the United States and Israel against Iran.

France is not providing weapons to Israel, clarified the minister in a social media statement on Saturday. The components authorized for sale are meant for integration into air defense systems like the Iron Dome and for equipment designated solely for re-export. Some of these components are also necessary for France’s own military forces.

The statements were made shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France would abstain from engaging in any hostilities against Iran alongside the United States and Israel.

In response to remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Ambassador to Paris, Joshua Zarqa, expressed strong disapproval, stating that France cannot be regarded as an ally of the Tel Aviv administration. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned France for neglecting to issue any statements condemning the US-Israel hostilities towards Iran. He criticized Macron for remaining silent on the matter, suggesting an implicit endorsement of the aggression.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a significant and unprovoked military operation targeting Iran, resulting in the assassination of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, along with several senior military officials. This development occurred amidst ongoing, indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington concerning Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

In a series of strategic countermeasures, the Iranian Armed Forces have launched multiple retaliatory missile and drone strikes targeting US interests throughout West Asia, as well as Israeli sites located in the occupied territories.