Israel-Iran: Emmanuel Macron considers that overthrowing a regime by force would be a "strategic error"

A warning from Emmanuel Macron. On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada , which focused on the ongoing war between Israel and Iran , the French president stated on the night of Monday 16 to Tuesday 17 June that overthrowing a regime by force would amount to committing a "strategic error".

"I think that anyone who believes that by striking with bombs from outside, you save a country against itself has always been wrong," he said from Kananaskis.

"I believe that people are sovereign and that all those who have tried in the past to change regimes through strikes or military operations have made strategic errors."

A response to Benjamin Netanyahu ? Earlier, the Israeli Prime Minister had said in an interview with the American television network ABC that killing Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, "will not lead to an escalation of the conflict." On the contrary, "it will end the conflict," according to the Israeli leader, who has not formally stated his intentions.

For the fifth consecutive night, Israel and Iran have exchanged missile barrages and threats of war, with Tehran announcing strikes "uninterrupted until dawn" after a new wave of Israeli attacks.

The deadly military escalation between the two countries was triggered Friday by an Israeli offensive targeting strategic Iranian sites with the stated aim of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Faced with this conflict, US President Donald Trump , known for his unpredictable nature, has issued a series of contradictory statements. He assured on Monday that an "agreement" would be reached regarding the conflict between Iran and Israel. Then, he wrote this very alarming message on his Truth Social network: "Everyone should evacuate Tehran immediately."

One event is fueling questions: Donald Trump left the summit by helicopter on Monday evening , a day earlier than initially planned, because of "what is happening in the Middle East," according to his spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

As speculation mounted about active US participation in Israel's unprecedented air offensive, the White House reiterated that US forces remained "in a defensive posture" in the Middle East.

Finally, one last element adds to the general confusion: the American president has assured that his early departure from the G7 has "nothing to do with a ceasefire" between Israel and Iran, and has strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for having presented it in this way.

"A proposal has been made, notably for a ceasefire and to engage in broader discussions," the French president told reporters at the G7 in Canada, according to CNN .

Shortly before Donald Trump's departure, G7 leaders agreed to advocate for a "de-escalation" in the conflict between Israel and Iran. In a joint statement, they called for "the protection of civilians" while reaffirming Israel's right to "defend itself."