France's Macron agrees with Riyadh on curbing Iran 'expansionism'

France's Macron agrees with Riyadh on curbing Iran 'expansionism'
France's president has said he agrees with Saudi Arabia on the need to curb Iranian "expansionism" in the Middle East.
2 min read
11 April, 2018
Macron that France agreed with Saudi Arabia on the need to curb Iranian "expansionism" [Getty]

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France agreed with Saudi Arabia on the need to curb Iranian "expansionism" in the Middle East, while also announcing a conference to boost humanitarian support for Yemen, where Riyadh is waging a bombing campaign.

Speaking alongside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a press conference as the de-facto Saudi leader wrapped up a three-day official visit, Macron called for "greater efforts to limit Iran's ballistic activity and regional expansionism".

"This strategic vision means reducing all the projects of expansionist political Islam which could feed other forms of terrorism and destabilise the region," Macron said of Riyadh's regional rival.

On Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has led an international military coalition since 2015 and waged a blockade that has sparked widespread condemnation.

Macron stressed the need for "respect for international humanitarian law".

"We will continue to be extremely vigilant on this point," he said, while adding: "It is obvious that we will not tolerate any ballistic activity that threatens Saudi Arabia."

Saudi Arabia launched an air campaign against the Houthi rebels in March 2015 after the group overran much of Yemen.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the coalition joined the Yemen war in 2015, triggering what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Human rights groups have accused Saudi Arabia of targeting civilians with airstrikes.

After a trip which has seen France and Saudi sign up for major cultural exchanges as well as discussions of war in the Middle East, companies from both countries signed draft deals worth a total $18 billion.

The memoranda of understanding cover sectors including petrochemicals, water treatment, tourism, health, agricultural and cultural activities, the French-Saudi business forum said in a statement.