Macron Hints at Imposing Sanctions on Iran over its Ballistic Missiles

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures during a news conference in Dubai, UAE, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Satish Kumar
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures during a news conference in Dubai, UAE, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Satish Kumar
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Macron Hints at Imposing Sanctions on Iran over its Ballistic Missiles

French President Emmanuel Macron gestures during a news conference in Dubai, UAE, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Satish Kumar
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures during a news conference in Dubai, UAE, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Satish Kumar

French President Emmanuel Macron hinted at the possibility of imposing sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program, while stressing the need to add to the Nuclear Deal two clauses pertaining to Tehran’s ballistic activity and discussions on curbing its control over the region.

“It is possible to impose sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missiles,” he said, noting that the Nuclear Deal must be maintained by adding “two pillars: negotiations on Iran’s ballistic activity with sanctions if necessary, and a strategy to limit Iranian hegemony in the entire region.”

“I will try to convince all those who want to reconsider the 2015 agreement, our American partners and the Saudi neighbor,” he said.

Macron announced at a press conference in Dubai on Thursday that he would travel to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the issues of Lebanon, Yemen and the region in general.

On the other hand, the French president described his visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai as very fruitful, underlining that the UAE was a “key partner” for France, especially in defense, praising its decision to buy two warships manufactured by the Naval Group.

Macron exchanged with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, talks on bilateral relations and strategic partnership, as well as ways to develop cooperation at various levels.

“We are partners and friends, and our friendship is firm and strong and based on the mutual respect and common national interests,” the Dubai ruler said.

Earlier on Thursday, Macron met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, with whom he discussed relations of cooperation and friendship, as well as developments in the region.

In remarks following the meeting, the French president expressed his pleasure to visit the UAE and to participate in the opening of the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi.

He noted that talks with Sheikh Mohammed were very productive and tackled issues of mutual interest, especially cooperation in the framework of the development of bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, the UAE-France Business Forum, which was held in Dubai on Thursday, called for strategic cooperation in innovation, mobility and sustainability.

The forum was organized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the French Embassy in the UAE, Business France - the national agency supporting the internationalization of the French economy, and the French Business Council in Dubai. The event saw the participation of ministers, key decisionmakers, and government and business leaders from the UAE and France.

Addressing the participants, Macron highlighted the shared values of culture, civilization and economy between the UAE and France. He spoke about the need to “create a new world for the young generation, based on respect, tolerance, and reason,” and emphasized the role of business and education to achieve these goals.  He also noted that the UAE and France are making great strides in promoting innovation, and building smart cities.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Chamber signed a joint memorandum of understanding with the Paris Chamber of Commerce, which includes about 650,000 companies operating in the Paris region, which contribute to around 30 percent of France’s GDP.



Russian Attack Kills 3 in Ukraine’s City of Dnipro, Governor Says

 A firefighter works at the site of a household item shopping mall which was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the city of Kamianske, Dnipro region, Ukraine July 26, 2025. (Reuters)
A firefighter works at the site of a household item shopping mall which was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the city of Kamianske, Dnipro region, Ukraine July 26, 2025. (Reuters)
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Russian Attack Kills 3 in Ukraine’s City of Dnipro, Governor Says

 A firefighter works at the site of a household item shopping mall which was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the city of Kamianske, Dnipro region, Ukraine July 26, 2025. (Reuters)
A firefighter works at the site of a household item shopping mall which was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the city of Kamianske, Dnipro region, Ukraine July 26, 2025. (Reuters)

Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles in an overnight attack that killed three people in Ukraine's Dnipro and the nearby region on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said.

Moscow's troops launched 235 drones and 27 missiles, damaging residential and commercial buildings and causing fires, the Ukrainian Air Force said. It said in a statement that 10 missiles and 25 attack drones hit nine sites. The rest of the drones and missiles were brought down, the Air Force said.

"A terrible night. A massive combined attack on the region," Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor, said on the Telegram app.

He said three people were killed in the attacks and six others wounded in the city of Dnipro and the nearby region.

Lysak posted pictures showing firefighters battling fires, a residential building with smashed windows, and charred cars.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed retaliatory strikes.

"Russian military enterprises, Russian logistics, and Russian airports should feel that Russia’s own war is now hitting them back with real consequences," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app.

Ukraine's attacks on Russia have heated up in recent months, with Moscow and Kyiv exchanging swarms of drones and fierce fighting raging along more than 1,000 kilometers of the frontline.