Macron Warns of Chaos from Potential Regime Change in Iran
French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned that any push for a regime change in Iran might lead to “chaos,” especially as discussions around possible terrorist threats in Europe have intensified due to the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.
During a discussion at the G7 Summit in Canada on Tuesday, Macron expressed France’s opposition to any “military action” that could result in the downfall of Iran’s Islamic government amid the situation with Israel. He stated, “The biggest mistake today is seeking military change in Iran, because it’s confusing.” He referenced past events, questioning, “Do you think what happened in Iraq in 2003, what happened in Libya has been beneficial?”
The French leader emphasized uncertainty surrounding future developments, indicating that Paris does not back Iran’s energy sector, civilians, or military initiatives aimed at altering the regime.
Macron also urged President Trump to encourage all parties to engage in negotiations to resolve the tensions between Jerusalem and Tehran.
His remarks came after Trump criticized Macron for allegedly seeking attention, suggesting that the French leader had cut his G7 visit short to pursue a ceasefire in the Middle East. Trump remarked, “I’m wrong! He doesn’t know why I’m on my way to Washington, but that certainly has nothing to do with a ceasefire. It’s much bigger than that. Emmanuel is always wrong, whether intentional or not.”
Additionally, there are growing worries that the conflict between Israel and Iran could spill over into increasingly diverse societies in Western Europe. Bruno Retailleau, France’s Minister of Home Affairs, voiced concerns that France might face threats from an internal “Islamist movement,” which he believes could be influenced by events in Iran.
Retailleau also pointed out that threats “directly from the Mullah regime” had been mitigated previously, citing foiled Iran-linked attacks in 2018 and 2021. He remarked that Iran often tries to leverage connections with organized crime in France to orchestrate plans. The Minister highlighted that French intelligence is currently monitoring specific individuals closely and must remain vigilant in the coming days.
In Germany, concerns echoed from Social Democrat Sebastian Fiedler, who discussed the potential of Islamist regimes using refugee movements to smuggle agents into Europe. He stated, “If people want to seek protection here in Germany, we must also be aware of our safety, especially among male refugees. Under any circumstances, we must prevent the Iranian regime, particularly the revolutionary guards, from exploiting the plight of refugees to infiltrate their people here.”
