French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot has declared that, if necessary, France is “ready” to defend the Persian Gulf states and Jordan from Iran, France 24 reports.

"To allied countries that have been deliberately targeted by the missiles and drones of the [Iranian] Revolutionary Guards and dragged into a war they did not choose – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan – France expresses its full support and complete solidarity," the French FM said. "It stands ready ... to take part in their defense."