March 16, 2026 | 06:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Sunday that he phoned Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. As reported by Le Monde, Macron told Pezeshkian that targeting French interests was "unacceptable," following an Iranian-designed drone attack that killed a French soldier in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Arnaud Frion, 42, was killed and six other French soldiers were injured on Thursday night in a drone strike in Erbil, Kurdistan. He was the first French soldier killed since the start of the Middle East war, which escalated after Israel, supported by the United States, attacked Iran on February 28, 2026.
The conflict has resulted in over 1,300 civilian deaths, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several family members.
"I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said after his conversation with Pezeshkian.
"I reminded him that France acts strictly in a defensive capacity to protect its interests and those of its regional partners, and to uphold freedom of navigation, and that it is unacceptable for our country to be targeted," he claimed.
While not directly claiming responsibility for the strike, a pro-Iran armed group in Iraq said on Friday that it would target French interests across the region.
Pezeshkian's Response
While not directly claiming responsibility for the strike, a pro-Iran armed group in Iraq said on Friday that it would target French interests across the region.
The recent strikes on Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island originated from several Gulf nations, implying the involvement of neighboring countries in the U.S.-Israeli campaign in the region.
According to a statement reported by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) and cited by Yeni Safat, Pezeshkian stated that the root of regional instability lies in "hostile actions by Israel and the United States."
He emphasized that Iran and its armed forces "had not sought escalation or conflict," but stressed that Tehran will vigorously defend its territorial integrity and national security.
Macron noted the necessity of ending the war and reducing regional tension, according to the report, aligning with France's position of non-participation and calls for de-escalation.
Significance of Kharg Island
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the U.S. has destroyed all military targets on Kharg Island and threatened to strike the island's oil infrastructure if Iran continues to block ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Kharg Island is Iran’s primary oil export hub, handling 90-95% of the country’s crude oil exports, which averaged 1.7 million barrels per day last year. The island remains a critical component of Iran's energy system and a vital source of government revenue.
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, following the joint attack by Israel and the U.S. on February 28.
Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, alongside strikes in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states, which Tehran claims targeted "U.S. military assets."
Read: Israeli Official Says Iran War Not Progressing as Expected
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