Macron Says France Will Defend Israel If Iran Retaliates

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that France would defend Israel if attacked by Iran. France, considering its assets, and if capable, would participate in operations to protect and defend Israel.

"I have expressed our readiness in this regard," Macron said in a press conference on Friday, June 13, 2025, as reported by Anadolu. Macron added that France had no intention to participate in any offensive operations.

Instead of engaging in warfare, Macron advocated for diplomatic measures in response to the heightened tensions between the two countries following Israel's attack on Iran.

"Faced with the major risk of destabilization for the entire region, France now calls on all parties to exercise the greatest restraint to avoid escalation. The issue of Iran’s nuclear program is a serious matter, an existential one. It must now be resolved through negotiation," said Macron.

He also expressed regret over the fact that Iran did not seriously respond to the U.S. proposal allowing limited low-level uranium enrichment.

"I say it with the utmost clarity: the risk of Iran progressing toward nuclear weapons threatens the region, Europe, and more broadly, collective stability. We cannot live in a world where Iran possesses the atomic bomb, because it is an existential threat and a threat to our security," he stated.

Macron further reaffirmed that he did not participate in any recent operations or their planning. "We decided to reinforce our Sentinelle operation to address all potential threats on national soil. Several measures were also adopted to guarantee the safety of our nationals, our troops, and our embassies in the region," said Macron after the National Security and Defense Council meeting held on Friday.

"Operation Sentinelle" will enable the mobilization of troops every day to ensure the security of places of worship, sensitive locations, as well as schools, tourist sites, railway stations, and airports, according to the French broadcaster BFM TV.

Israel initiated its military operation on Friday morning, targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities and killing its top military commander and scientists. The attacks continued overnight, hitting cities such as Tehran, Natanz, Tabriz, and Isfahan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to retaliate against Israel.

On Friday night, around 100 missiles were fired from Iran to Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel. According to Axios, the retaliatory strikes began 18 hours after Israel launched its offensive against Iran. Israel targeted its nuclear facilities and missile sites, killing Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists.

Quoted from CNN, Iran claimed to have targeted Israeli military industrial centers used for producing missiles and other military equipment. Iran added that field reports, satellite imagery, and intercepted intelligence showed that dozens of ballistic missiles effectively hit strategic targets.

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