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France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, has accused Iran of provoking renewed United States military strikes by violating a recent truce agreement and international law.
Speaking in an interview with TF1 television on Thursday, Barrot said Iran breached commitments made under last month’s agreement with the United States by targeting ships in Omani waters, adding that the actions prompted the latest escalation.
He stressed that the attacks violated both the agreement and international law, while urging all sides to exercise restraint to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Barrot said it was essential for such actions to stop to create the right conditions for ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
“It was Iran that, by targeting ships sailing in Omani waters, violated its own commitments as well as international law,” Barrot said.
“Iran violated the agreement reached with the United States last month,” Barrot added, calling for calm between the rival forces.
“This type of manoeuvre must absolutely stop so that these crucial negotiations can continue under the best possible conditions,” he added.
The comments came as the United States and Iran exchanged strikes for a second consecutive day as tensions heighten over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The US military said its latest strikes targeted Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation through the vital shipping route, citing recent attacks on commercial vessels.
Iran, in turn, said it had launched retaliatory strikes against US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
