UK, France, and Germany Prepared to Take "Defensive" Action Against Iran
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement against Iran, which has been carrying out retaliatory strikes following the attacks by the United States and Israel.
The leaders of the three countries stated in the joint communique that they were “appalled by Iran’s indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks against countries in the region, including those that did not participate in the initial US and Israeli military operations.”
The statement continued: “The E3 leaders are appalled by Iran’s indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks against regional countries, including those that did not take part in the initial US and Israeli military operations. Iran’s reckless attacks have targeted our close allies and threaten our military personnel and civilians in the region.”
Cooperation with the United States
Calling on Iran to immediately cease its attacks, the statement noted that steps would be taken to defend the interests of the E3 countries and their regional allies, including “supporting necessary and proportionate defensive measures to destroy Iran’s missile and UAV launch capacity at the source.” The leaders also agreed to cooperate closely with the United States and regional allies to address the situation.
Following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran—which killed several high-ranking Iranian leaders, including the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—Tehran responded with a series of drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, US assets, and various Gulf nations.
A spokesperson for the German military (Bundeswehr) confirmed media reports to AFP, stating that Iran's attacks targeted a multinational military base near Erbil in northern Iraq and a German military camp in eastern Jordan. They added that there were no casualties in the attacks.
Meanwhile, French broadcaster BFMTV reported on Sunday that France has decided to redeploy the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its naval strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean, cutting short their mission in the Baltic Sea due to rising regional tensions. This move followed a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council held by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace to assess the evolving security situation.
"Iran Sees Revenge as a Duty and a Right"
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the killing of Khamenei as a “declaration of war against Muslims” and warned: “Iran considers taking revenge on the perpetrators and instigators of this historic crime as its legitimate duty and right.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the US network ABC News on Sunday, “We will defend ourselves by doing whatever is necessary, and we set no limits for ourselves in defending and protecting our people.”
Sources: Anadolu Agency, France 24
