French President Emmanuel Macron has cited the US-Iran conflict as a factor contributing to the ongoing protests and unrest in France, stating that the conflict has driven up fuel and living costs.
What happened
Macron made the comments in a televised speech, where he acknowledged that demonstrators are concerned about the cost of living and fuel prices, which he attributed to the conflict in the Persian Gulf. He announced plans to travel to the Gulf to discuss the energy crisis and secure fuel and gas for France.
Critics, including President Donald Trump and Iran expert Lisa Daftari, have argued that Macron is misattributing the cause of the protests, which they claim are a result of domestic issues, including organized lawlessness and ultra-left groups. Daftari stated that the high fuel prices are a result of Iran's regime closing the Strait of Hormuz, rather than the US-Iran conflict.
Other experts, such as Barak Seener, have suggested that Macron is ignoring the root causes of the crisis, including illegal immigration and the influence of radical left and Muslim organizations. Seener argued that Macron's political correctness and support for a Palestinian state have contributed to the unrest.
