Following initial reactions from France's political class to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli-US strike, President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on Tuesday evening, the fourth day of the offensive against Iran. He discussed Khamenei's death, French military reinforcements in the Middle East, repatriation of nationals, criticized the strikes for breaching international law while blaming Tehran primarily, and called for an end to hostilities and diplomatic negotiations.
Emmanuel Macron delivered a ten-minute televised address from the Élysée Palace on March 3, 2026—the fourth day of the coordinated US-Israeli offensive against Iran, launched the previous Saturday. This came amid initial political reactions to the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in the strikes after leading Iran since 1989.
"History never mourns the executioners of their people. And none will be regretted," Macron stated, implicitly referring to Khamenei and expressing satisfaction at the fall of leaders behind thousands of deaths in Iran.
Macron placed 'primary responsibility' on Iran, citing its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, support for Hezbollah, Houthis, Iraqi Shiite militias, and Hamas, plus the repression of January protests killing over 30,000. Yet, he criticized the operations as 'conducted outside international law,' noting France was not informed beforehand.
In Lebanon, amid Hezbollah strikes on Israel, Macron warned against an Israeli ground operation as a 'dangerous escalation and strategic error.' With Germany and the UK, he pushed for halting strikes and pursuing 'lasting peace' via diplomacy, hoping Iranians decide their future freely.
Militarily, France bolstered defenses: Rafale jets from the UAE secured airspace over bases, anti-air systems downed drones, and responses to Iranian strikes on Abu Dhabi and Cyprus include deploying frigate Languedoc, anti-air assets to Cyprus, and aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Mediterranean. France leads a coalition to protect routes like the Suez Canal, Red Sea, and Strait of Hormuz, vital for 20% of global oil and LNG.
Prioritizing vulnerable nationals among 400,000 French in the region, two repatriation flights arrived in Paris that night, with more planned. Domestically, Operation Sentinelle is reinforced, and vigilance heightened around sites and individuals at risk from Tehran-linked threats.
