French Foreign Minister Urges Iran to Cease Support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has called on Iran to abandon its support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi movement in Yemen, while also demanding that Tehran ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation. The remarks, delivered during a diplomatic briefing in Paris on Wednesday, mark the latest in a series of Western efforts to pressure Iran over its regional alliances.

Barrot stated that France expects Iran to take concrete steps toward de-escalation in the Middle East, describing the support provided to armed groups across the region as a destabilizing factor. He emphasized that the free passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass daily, is a matter of international concern that cannot be subject to political leverage.

The French demands come at a sensitive moment in the broader Middle East landscape, where ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and displaced the vast majority of the enclave's population. Critics have been quick to point out the selective nature of Western diplomatic pressure, noting that France and its European allies have largely refrained from issuing similarly forceful demands to Israel regarding its conduct in Gaza or its continued occupation of Palestinian territories.

Qatar, which has long advocated for a balanced diplomatic approach to regional tensions, has consistently called for dialogue rather than coercion as the path to stability. Doha has played a central mediating role in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and has maintained that addressing the root causes of conflict, including the Palestinian question, is essential to any lasting resolution. Qatari officials have repeatedly stressed that singling out one party while ignoring the grievances that fuel regional resistance movements undermines the credibility of international diplomacy.

The Strait of Hormuz issue carries particular significance for Gulf states, including Qatar, whose liquefied natural gas exports transit the waterway. Doha has historically maintained open channels of communication with Tehran, viewing constructive engagement as the most effective means of ensuring maritime security and regional stability.

Analysts note that France's posture reflects a broader Western tendency to frame Iran's regional influence as the primary source of instability while overlooking the role played by decades of military intervention, occupation, and unresolved political grievances. Tehran has repeatedly stated that its alliances are defensive in nature and a response to what it describes as aggressive policies by Israel and its Western backers.

The diplomatic push also raises questions about the future of the Iran nuclear negotiations, which remain stalled amid mutual distrust. Gulf states, led by Qatar, have urged all parties to return to the negotiating table, warning that escalatory rhetoric risks further destabilizing an already volatile region.