The Latest Breaking News from JeanNoël Barrot

Countries are evacuating their nationals from Israel and Iran by air, land and sea as conflict rages between the bitter Middle East rivals

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Thursday confirmed four French nationals who sailed on a Gaza-bound aid boat would be deported back to France on Thursday or Friday.

This latest episode in the diplomatic tug of war between the two countries comes a month after Algeria expelled 12 French officials from the country in mid-April — a move which France reciprocated.

France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to the removal of French officials from Algiers, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday.

France is spearheading a renewed European effort to impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia, linking economic pressure to the urgent push for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Algeria has ordered the expulsion of more French diplomatic staff, in the ongoing deterioration of relations between the two countries. France’s foreign ministry said France will respond in a “firm” and “proportionate” way.

Locked in a windowless cell with the lights on day and night, French teacher Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris on Wednesday marked three years in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison. As the anniversary passes, Kohler’s sister has told RFI their situation is unbearable and deteriorating fast.

France has formally accused Russia’s military intelligence agency of carrying out cyberattacks against French institutions, including Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign and organisations linked to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Foreign ministry says Russian military intelligence has attacked a dozen French entities since 2021 including a TV station