00:00Now, the French president is convening a Defense Council meeting as tensions between Israel and Iran flare in the Middle East.
00:07France has called for both sides to de-escalate, but hopes of a diplomatic solution appear grim with U.S. President Donald Trump mulling direct involvement.
00:16We can now go across to France 24's Clovis Casali standing by at the Elysee Palace.
00:21Clovis, good afternoon. What are the main issues being discussed here?
00:25Well, this is the second Defense Council, the first post-G7, and President Emmanuel Macron wanted to hold it as soon as he returned from Canada.
00:37It's currently taking place at the PC Jupiter, which is a room in a bunker in the lower part, in the basement of the Elysee Palace behind me.
00:46Among the topics discussed are, of course, the security of French nationals currently in the region with this war raging between Israel and Iran.
00:58But also how the situation is evolving and the various initiatives France could be taking.
01:05The situation is rapidly evolving, and this is a possibility for President Macron to also brief ministers and get their assessment on the situation.
01:15You have the Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barraud, but also the Defence Minister and the Interior Minister.
01:23Of course, President Macron following closely the current situation in between Iran and Israel,
01:30with, in recent hours, Khamenei, the leader of the Iranian regime, saying that neither war nor peace will be imposed on Iran.
01:41And, Clovis, Israel says that this operation of DERIS is to remove the missile and nuclear threat posed from Iran.
01:52But there has been this chatter of regime change.
01:55Even we, in the past few minutes, had the U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about the Supreme Leader, his response was good luck.
02:02So what does France have to say on this?
02:06The role of the U.S. is key, of course, because it's a staunch ally of Israel.
02:12France has made it very clear.
02:14Israel has a right to defend itself, with Iran, of course, vowing to destroy Israel and this for years.
02:21And, at the same time, France not supporting the Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
02:28Yesterday, it was very interesting to hear the French Foreign Minister repeat at the National Assembly
02:33that Iran is no ally of France, reminding people here in France that Iran has supported various terrorist groups,
02:41has congratulated those who committed the October 7th attack on Israel,
02:48and also that two French hostages are currently held in very difficult situations in Iran.
02:56So that's a key point.
02:58But at the same time, yesterday at the G7, French President Emmanuel Macron was asked about a possible regime change.
03:05That was, of course, what Netanyahu of Israel has been calling for,
03:09and possibly also Donald Trump, as we've been hearing in recent hours.
03:13But French President Emmanuel Macron has been very clear.
03:16Iran is not an ally of France.
03:19It's a regime who has been committing atrocities.
03:22But at the same time, chaos could be around the corner.
03:25Take a listen to President Macron yesterday speaking from Canada.
03:30No two military actions aimed at regime change, because no one knows what comes next.
03:36Haven't we collectively seen the consequences this has had in the region and beyond?
03:40Does anyone think what was done in Iraq in 2003 was a good idea?
03:47Does anyone think what was done in Libya last decade was a good idea?
03:51No.
03:52French President Emmanuel Macron there.
03:54Clovis, we're going to have to leave with that.
03:55Thank you so much for that update.
03:56Clovis Casali reporting there.
03:58Clovis Casalibernator we're going to be on a rise.
