Macron’s Bizarre Plea to Trump: Spare Iran’s Regime to Avoid Chaos

French President Emmanuel Macron ignited a diplomatic rift yesterday (tuesday) urging U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid destabilizing Iran’s regime through military action, warning that such a move would plunge the Middle East into “chaos.” Speaking at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Macron emphasized the need for diplomacy to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, arguing that forceful regime change would repeat the catastrophic mistakes of past interventions in Iraq and Libya. “No one can say what comes next,” he cautioned, referencing the unpredictable fallout of toppling Tehran’s clerical leadership.

Macron’s stance comes as Trump escalates his rhetoric, demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and hinting at U.S. military involvement in Israel’s ongoing airstrikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets. The U.S. president, who abruptly left the G7 summit early, dismissed Macron’s suggestion that he was pursuing a ceasefire, calling the French leader “publicity-seeking” and asserting his plans were “much bigger.” Trump’s posts on Truth Social, claiming knowledge of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s location and urging Tehran’s evacuation, have heightened fears of a broader conflict.

Iran’s regime, long criticized for its human rights abuses, sponsorship of terrorism, and suppression of dissent, has drawn global condemnation. Reports from groups like Human Rights Activists indicate over 585 deaths in Iran since the Israel-Iran conflict began, with civilians among the casualties. The regime’s history includes executing dissidents, backing groups like Hezbollah, and cracking down on protests, such as those following Mahsa Amini’s death in 2022. Yet Macron argues that dismantling it militarily risks unleashing worse turmoil, potentially empowering extremist factions or fracturing Iran’s fragile state.

The French president’s position has drawn scrutiny. Israeli Knesset member Ohad Tal, speaking to Fox News, called negotiations with Iran “outrageous,” branding the regime an “evil, jihadist” threat that must be toppled to secure global stability. Israeli officials, buoyed by their strikes crippling Iran’s nuclear sites, see the regime’s collapse as a strategic goal, with Defense Minister Israel Katz comparing Khamenei’s potential fate to that of Saddam Hussein.

Macron, however, insists on a diplomatic path, advocating for renewed international oversight of Iran’s nuclear program and a reduction in its ballistic missile arsenal. He shrugged off Trump’s personal attacks, calling them an “incident” and maintaining that U.S. leadership is essential to bring Israel and Iran to the negotiating table.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, while acknowledging Israel’s role in countering Iran, suggested only U.S. firepower could fully neutralize Tehran’s fortified nuclear sites, like Fordow, hinting at the transatlantic tensions Macron seeks to navigate.

As Israel’s air campaign enters its sixth day, with Tehran’s residents fleeing amid IDF evacuation warnings, the Macron-Trump clash points a deeper divide among Western allies. Macron’s warning reflects a pragmatic fear of unintended consequences, while Trump’s belligerence aligns with Israeli hawks and U.S. conservatives pushing for decisive action. Whether Iran’s regime, notorious for its brutality, can be contained without collapse remains an open question.