Interview
Pascal Confavreux, deputy spokesperson for the French foreign ministry, speaks to Rudaw in an interview on March 9, 2026. Photo: Screengrab/ Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - France condemns the "unjustified" attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, an official said, warning they threaten the stability and security of the Region even as it has maintained neutrality amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
In an interview with Rudaw’s Bestoon Othman late Monday, Pascal Confavreux, deputy spokesperson for the French foreign ministry, said Paris opposes strikes against the Kurdistan Region and called for urgent de-escalation across the region.
“The indefinite prolongation of military operations poses an important threat," Confavreux said, adding that Paris condemns "all the unjustified attacks actually that are coming and that threaten the stability and the security of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region.”
The Kurdistan Region has recently faced a series of drone and missile attacks, many claimed by Iranian aligned armed groups operating in Iraq and the Region, despite declaring neutrality in the wider conflict that erupted following Israeli and US strikes on Iran.
Confavreux said that the priority of the situation is “to the de-escalation” of the conflict, warning that continued fighting could "have a very strong destabilization" for other countries in the region.
His remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Saturday with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, reaffirming Paris’ support for the Region’s stability.
“They agreed to continue the efforts to prevent the regionalization of the conflict and of course to say that the stability of Kurdistan is of utmost importance for France and as well as its security,” Confavreux said.
He added that France considers itself "a reliable partner" for Iraq and the Region, he added.
The French president also spoke with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in a Sunday phone call during which macron urged Pezeshkian an immediate cease to Tehran’s strikes on alleged US targets in the region.
In a statement on X, Macron said he stressed to Pezeshkian “the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region,” adding that Tehran “must also guarantee freedom of navigation by putting an end to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”
According to Confavreux, Macron also called for a shift in Iran’s stance regarding its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its network of regional allies.
“This was a severe discussion and - but useful - to have these messages passed directly to Iran because let's not be mistaken: the primary responsibility for the situation now here in the region is from Iran and from the risk and the threat that it poses to the region,” Confavreux said.
Beyond diplomatic engagement, France has also taken military steps aimed at protecting its interests and supporting allies amid the escalating tensions, according to Confavreux.
He said Paris has deployed naval assets to the region, including an aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean and a frigate off the coast of Cyprus, while additional ships are expected to support European efforts to safeguard maritime traffic.
The deployments are part of a broader effort to ensure freedom of navigation in key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz and to protect international economic activity, he said.
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