Emmanuel Macron said he contacted his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, to stress that attacks on French interests are “not acceptable” following the death of a French soldier in Iraq.

The soldier, Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion, 42, was killed last Thursday in the Erbil area of Iraqi Kurdistan when an Iranian-made drone struck, marking the first French military fatality in the Middle East conflict. Six other French soldiers were injured in the incident.

Macron shared details of the conversation on Sunday via X, saying he urged Iran to immediately halt attacks against countries in the region, whether carried out directly or through allied groups, including in Lebanon and Iraq.

“I told him that France only uses force when it’s necessary to protect its own interests, its friends in the region, and the right for ships to move freely through international waters. It’s not acceptable for our country to be attacked,” Macron said.

The attack followed warnings issued by the pro-Iranian militia Ashab Alkahf, which threatened French interests in Iraq, though it did not explicitly claim responsibility for the drone strike.

Macron described the escalation as destabilising for the region and warned of broader consequences. “The way things are escalating right now is causing a lot of chaos in the whole region, and it’s going to have big effects both right now and in the future,” he said.

He added that the people of Iran, like others in the region, are bearing the consequences of these tensions.

The French president’s statement underscores France’s position that its military actions in the Middle East are defensive and intended to protect international interests and allies.

French officials have called for restraint from all parties involved, while continuing investigations into the attack and the involvement of Iranian-backed groups.

The incident highlights growing regional tensions and the potential for further confrontations involving foreign forces operating in Iraq and neighbouring countries.