'Do not intervene' in Iran, former French prime minister tells Euronews

“Do not intervene” in Iran, former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has urged, arguing that the current unrest represents “a movement of the Iranian population against the mullahs’ regime.”

Speaking on Euronews’ flagship morning show, Europe Today, de Villepin said there is a shifting position within the leadership in Tehran and that the right balance must be found to avoid “make things worse”.

According to de Villepin, the big risk is to “create a situation of chaos that would be even worse than the situation today, so we must be very careful,” he told Méabh Mc Mahon.

“Through dialogue, through raising awareness, through strong pressure, and there are many unofficial ways to pressure the Islamic government, we may be in a position to halt and stop the current situation in Iran,” he said.

Tehran has faced mounting pressure following weeks of nationwide protests. Demonstrations intensified over the past week after authorities imposed an internet and communications blackout.

According to human rights groups, more than 500 protesters have been killed and thousands arrested.

De Villepin said that foreign intervention could “give the regime the opportunity to further increase repression.”

“The United States is already engaged in many different situations, including Venezuela. Nothing has been achieved yet, and the people of Venezuela are still waiting for results,” de Villepin said.

“Becoming involved in a region like the Middle East without knowing what the consequences would be would not be responsible.”

De Villepin was a minister under the Jacques Chirac government and served as prime minister of France between 2005 and 2007. He gained international recognition for refusing to support the US-led war in Iraq in 2003.

This past summer, he founded a new party, Humanist France (La France Humaniste, LFH), ahead of the country's 2027 presidential elections.