French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned against any attempt to overthrow Iran’s government, warning that such a move would plunge the region into chaos. His remarks come amid a sharp escalation in rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently issued a veiled threat against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On Tuesday, Trump took to Truth Social to claim the U.S. had full control of Iran’s airspace and knew Khamenei’s whereabouts. “He is an easy target… but we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Trump posted. He also demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” amid the country’s ongoing conflict with Israel.
Israel launched airstrikes on Iran last week, saying the goal was to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran, for its part, denies seeking nuclear arms and maintains its program is strictly for civilian use.
Speaking on the same day, Macron expressed opposition to Tehran obtaining a nuclear weapon, but firmly warned against any effort to change the regime through military force. “The biggest mistake would be to believe that bombing or trying to replace the regime will solve the issue – that would only bring chaos,” he said.
Recalling past Western military interventions, Macron asked: “Was what happened in Iraq in 2003 a success? Was Libya in 2011 a good idea? No.” Both countries descended into years of instability and violence after the U.S.-led removals of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi.
The French president stressed that the international community must instead return to negotiations with Iran, particularly on its nuclear and missile programs. “We need to re-establish oversight and set clear limits. But chaos is not the solution,” Macron said, highlighting concerns for regional neighbors like Lebanon and Iraq, whose security could be further destabilized by a new conflict.
Tensions between the two leaders grew further when Trump slammed Macron for announcing he would leave the G7 summit in Canada early to focus on ceasefire efforts between Israel and Iran. “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington,” Trump posted, dismissing Macron’s priorities and claiming his own plans are “much BIGGER.”
The stark contrast in tone between the American and French presidents signals a widening transatlantic divide over how to handle the spiraling crisis in the Middle East.
