France ready to help keep Iran at bay in Syria, Macron says

France stands ready to assist Syria in countering terrorism and preventing the country from becoming a launchpad for Iranian-backed militias, France’s president Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

Macron was speaking at a conference in Paris that brought together regional and Western powers to discuss Syria’s transition following the December overthrow of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

“The priority is ensuring that Syria does not become a logistical platform for militias linked to Iran, which pursue a regional destabilization agenda,” Macron said.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani led a delegation on Syria’s first official trip to the European Union since the fall of the Assad dynasty, a key Arab ally of Tehran.

“Your neighbors have suffered for too long from the consequences of an unstable and threatening Syria,” Macron added, addressing al-Shibani.

Iran expanded and deepened its influence in Syria during the country’s bloody civil war, backing Assad’s army and mobilising groups that helped secure key territory with Russian air support.

Tehran used Syria as a strategic hub to project power across the region, supplying arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon and maintaining a foothold near Israel’s borders. Assad’s fall last December dramatically weakened Iran’s position.

Macron also urged Syria’s new leadership to consider partnering with the Iraq-based international coalition fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) to maintain stability during the transition period.

“The fight against ISIS and all terrorist groups must remain an absolute priority,” Macron said, adding that the Western-led Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq could serve as a model for future cooperation.

The gathering was attended by regional heavyweights, including ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Lebanon. While most Western powers sent high-level representatives, the United States was represented by a lower-level diplomatic presence.

The meeting aimed to coordinate efforts to protect Syria’s sovereignty and security, while mobilizing aid and economic support for the country’s recovery.

“If Syria decides on a proposal for cooperation, France will not only look at it with benevolence but with full commitment,” Macron said in the end. “We're ready to fight these terrorist groups alongside you—and perhaps even more. So let’s go.”