The Iran war requires a serious approach that does not change every day, Emmanuel Macron has said, in an apparent reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's seemingly contradictory remarks about the conflict.
This is not a show. We are talking about war and peace and the lives of men and women, the French president told journalists upon arrival in South Korea for a state visit.
When you want to be serious you don't say every day the opposite of what you said the day before, Macron added.
And maybe you shouldn't be speaking every day. You should just let things quieten down.
Macron was answering questions on the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, which has now entered its second month. France and other European countries have supported some of the U.S. operations in the region but have so far resisted getting dragged into the war.
Trump and his administration have so far offered mixed messages on the conflict, at various times suggesting that a ceasefire was near, that the war had already been won, or that the U.S. was going to fight on.
Macron also addressed Trump's recent comments regarding the U.S. reconsideration of its NATO membership, stating that alliances like NATO are valuable because of the trust that underpins them. I feel like there is too much chatter, it's all over the place, he stated.
Macron dismissed the erratic nature of the discourse and reiterated the importance of committed partnerships in conflict resolution. He highlighted the need for careful consideration in military operations, especially in perilous regions like the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has recently threatened to close.
The French president underlined the importance of international oversight on Iran's nuclear program, arguing that military action alone cannot resolve longstanding issues while emphasizing the critical nature of transparent communication and commitment among allied nations.
