French Diplomacy Criticised for Double Standards Amid Gaza and Iran Tensions

Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghi took to social media on August 13 to lambaste France for what he termed a “repetitive and embarrassed” narrative on human rights. The Iranian official highlighted France’s simultaneous condemnation of Iran’s death‑penalty practices and its backing of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Araghi argued that Paris’s stance represents a “hypocritical policy,” citing the country’s recent alignment with a coalition of 25 states and the EU’s foreign affairs chief in denouncing Iran’s use of capital punishment. He asserted that France’s moral posturing is nullified when it supports Israel’s campaign, which he described as a massacre.

The criticism arrives as France and its partners demanded Tehran halt executions and release prisoners they deem arbitrarily detained. Analysts note that France’s dual approach—advocating for international law while siding with a party involved in severe civilian harm—creates an image of inconsistency.

The Iranian minister called for France to cease its public speeches on rights that conflict with its real‑world actions, urging a genuine commitment to the principles it declares to uphold.