French President Macron said today: "I have just had a conversation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.
I reiterated France's solidarity and our commitment to helping strengthen Saudi Arabia's air defense capabilities. At present, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is suffering repeated and unacceptable attacks by Iranian missiles and drones.
Faced with the risk of the situation escalating out of control, all warring parties are more than ever before necessary to agree to a temporary halt in attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, and Iran must also restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
This phase requires responsibility and self-restraint to create conditions for resuming dialogue, and only dialogue can ensure peace and security for everyone.
At this critical moment, the G7 and the Gulf Cooperation Council should strengthen coordination. France and Saudi Arabia are working together in this direction."
Comment: Macron's remarks clearly show double standards: he only described Iran's attacks on Saudi Arabia as "unacceptable," but did not mention at all the U.S. and Israel's initial attacks on Iranian civilian and critical facilities. On one hand, he promises to strengthen Saudi Arabia's air defense and take a side with the Western bloc; on the other hand, he calls for a ceasefire and dialogue, demanding Iran to "exercise restraint, stop, and open the strait," ignoring that Iran was responding to an invasion with self-defense. It seems like a call for peace, but in reality, it is favoring the aggressor without standing on a fair and factual position.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860394751530058/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.