French FM says US-Israel strike on Iran 'deserved discussion' before launch
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stopped short of condemning the strikes but expressed frustration that allies were not consulted in advance.
Europe — March 2, 2026
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Monday that the US-Israeli military action against Iran 'deserved prior discussion among allies' before being launched, in remarks that highlighted transatlantic friction over the campaign.
Barrot stopped short of an outright condemnation, acknowledging France's 'serious concerns' about Iranian nuclear ambitions, but said the lack of advance consultation with European partners 'raises real questions about alliance cohesion.'
'We were informed, not consulted. There is a difference,' Barrot said at a joint press conference with his German counterpart in Paris.
The remarks were the sharpest criticism yet from a major European NATO ally, reflecting widespread frustration in European capitals at being sidelined in a decision with enormous geopolitical consequences.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Barrot to discuss the French position. The State Department said the call was 'constructive' while declining to elaborate.
France has been one of the most active European participants in efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal and invested heavily in back-channel diplomacy with Tehran in recent months.
