Macron: US-Iran conflict is not yet over

French President Emmanuel Macron said he does not believe the US-Iran conflict has ended with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. In an interview with France 2 television, he stressed that bombing cannot achieve regime change. At the same time, Macron named the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and ensuring peace in Lebanon as positive outcomes of the agreement.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with France 2 television that despite the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran, he does not consider the conflict to be over.

War's beginning and France's position

Macron recalled that the US decided to start the war due to dissatisfaction with the course of negotiations, which he said occurred at the end of February 2026. "We said immediately that we would not participate in this war. We do not share those objectives because they seem unclear," the president stated. He added that France called for an end to hostilities and the structuring of future negotiations in the following weeks.

Macron also emphasized that the original US objective, regime change in Iran, is something that "is impossible to achieve through bombing".

Three outcomes of the agreement

According to Macron, the signed agreement brings three important outcomes. First, a ceasefire that extends to Lebanon. Second, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. The president noted that on the very same morning, a ship flying the French flag was able to pass through the strait. "This affects our economy very significantly. Oil prices have begun to fall and we are seeing that at the petrol pump," Macron explained.

Third, the agreement allows for peace to be restored in Lebanon within 60 days, which is an extremely important objective for France according to Macron. "That is why we must support it," he added.

Doubts about the finality of the conflict

Despite the positive developments, Macron remained cautious. He suggested that the memorandum is indeed a step in the right direction, but does not resolve all the fundamental disagreements between the US and Iran, and therefore the conflict cannot be considered over.