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French Foreign Minister Barrot Hopes Trump Does Not Go Ahead With Threat Against Iran
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on April 7 expressed hope that U.S. President Trump would refrain from escalating tensions with Iran following his ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and threats of massive destruction.
French Foreign Minister Urges Trump Not to Escalate Threats Against Iran
French Response to U.S.-Iran Tensions
French Foreign Minister's Statement
PARIS, April 7 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that he hoped U.S. President Trump would not go ahead with his latest threats against Iran.
Concerns Over Escalation
"One does not erase a civilisation...This ultimatum is not the first that President Trump has set since the war started," Barrot told France 2 television.
Potential Global Impact
"Obviously I hope he does not go ahead with his threats that would push the region but also the world in a new escalation that would be particularly dangerous," he added
Trump's Ultimatum to Iran
Trump on Tuesday threatened that "a whole civilization will die tonight" as Iran showed no sign of accepting his ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening.
Reporting and Editing Credits
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Key Takeaways
- •Barrot criticized the Trump ultimatum as erasing a civilization and warned of dangerous regional and global escalation.
- •Trump issued an ultimatum by Tuesday 8 p.m. ET, warning a “whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, prompting international alarm over potential war crimes.
- •The ultimatum comes amid the 2026 Iran–U.S. war, which has already seen U.S. strikes on Kharg Island and major disruptions to global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Frequently Asked Questions about French Foreign Minister Barrot hopes Trump does not go ahead with threat against Iran
1What did French Foreign Minister Barrot say about Trump's threats to Iran?
Barrot expressed hope that President Trump would not proceed with his threats against Iran, warning of dangerous escalation.
2What ultimatum did President Trump set for Iran?
Trump demanded Iran open the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening, threatening severe consequences if unmet.
3Why is the situation between the US and Iran concerning to France?
France fears that escalation could destabilize the region and the world, with Barrot warning it would be particularly dangerous.
4What did Barrot mean by 'One does not erase a civilisation'?
Barrot cautioned against actions that could lead to cultural or societal destruction, emphasizing the gravity of the threat.
5Who reported the French minister's comments?
The comments were reported by Dominique Vidalon and edited by Chizu Nomiyama for Reuters.
