French President Emmanuel Macron stated that significant changes to the leadership in Iran cannot be achieved “solely through bombardments by the United States and Israel.” Macron warned that the conflict in the Middle East could continue for “several weeks.”
“I don’t think you can achieve a major regime change or a change in the political system simply through bombing,” Macron said Monday local time while aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, currently stationed in the Mediterranean Sea.
The war, triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, “in this intense phase, could last ‘several days, perhaps several weeks,’” Macron said, according to Al Arabiya, Tuesday (March 10, 2026).
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Macron stated that France and its allies are preparing a “defensive” mission to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The French leader arrived by helicopter on the Charles de Gaulle, which was deployed to the Mediterranean following the United States and Israel’s strikes against Iran on February 28, sparking the conflict in the Middle East.
Previously, Macron said the Hormuz mission aims to escort container ships and tankers so the strait can gradually reopen “after the hottest phase of the conflict ends.”
“This is important for international trade, but also for the flow of gas and oil, which must be able to leave the region again,” Macron said during a visit to Cyprus to discuss regional security.
Speaking alongside Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron said that a “purely defensive, purely supportive” mission would be formed by European and non-European countries.
The European Union said Monday (March 9) it is prepared to “strengthen” its operations to protect maritime traffic in the Middle East.
The EU has discussed bolstering its naval mission in the Red Sea following the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, which triggered a wider regional war.
Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway of the Gulf through which nearly a fifth of global crude oil passes, has almost ground to a halt since the war broke out on February 28.
See also Video Macron Rejects Attempt to Change Iranian Regime: Will Cause Chaos
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Paris – French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned against relying on military force alone to effect political change in Iran, warning that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East is possible. The statement comes as regional tensions escalate following recent strikes by the United States and Israel.
Macron asserted that a significant shift in Iran’s leadership would not be achievable “simply through bombing,” adding that the current phase of the war could last “several days, perhaps several weeks.” He made the remarks while visiting the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday, March 9, 2026.
France is preparing a defensive mission alongside allies to ensure the continued flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies. Macron emphasized the importance of reopening the strait for international trade, particularly for the transport of oil and gas.
The European Union signaled its readiness to enhance its maritime security operations in the Middle East on Monday, March 9, in response to the escalating conflict. The disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately 20% of the world’s crude oil, has raised concerns about global energy markets. The development underscores growing regional instability and the potential for wider repercussions.
