Iran says French base in Gulf ”not conducive” to peace

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran declared on Sunday that a French military base in the Gulf would not help security and peace in the oil-rich region.

Paris signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates in January to build France’s first permanent military installation in the Gulf, just across the water from Iran.


The base will accommodate 400 to 500 personnel, keeping France within reach of sea lanes through which over a third of global oil shipments pass.

“We are against any kind of increase in the military presence of foreign forces in the region,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said when asked about the French base.

Reuters