PARIS March 18, 2026 – French President Emmanuel Macron has urged all parties in the ongoing Middle East conflict to implement an immediate moratorium on attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water facilities, following fresh strikes on gas production sites in Iran and Qatar.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) late on Wednesday, Macron said he had spoken directly with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and U.S. President Donald Trump after the day’s attacks.
“I have just spoken with the Emir of Qatar and President Trump following the strikes that hit gas production facilities in Iran and Qatar today,” Macron wrote. “It is in our common interest to implement, without delay, a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply facilities. Civilian populations and their essential needs, as well as the security of energy supplies, must be protected from military escalation.”
The call comes as the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran has triggered retaliatory strikes across the Persian Gulf, directly hitting shared and critical energy assets. Reports indicate Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field – the world’s largest natural gas reserve, which Iran shares with Qatar – prompting Iranian retaliation on Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial site and other Gulf energy hubs. Fires were reported at major facilities, forcing QatarEnergy to halt LNG production at key sites and sending global oil and gas prices surging.
The escalation has raised fears of a broader energy crisis, with ripple effects on international markets and civilian populations reliant on stable power and water supplies.
Macron’s proposal for a targeted ceasefire on civilian infrastructure has been echoed in international coverage, positioning France as a voice for de-escalation even as the conflict draws in more regional players. Qatar has already condemned the attacks and expelled Iranian diplomats, while the broader war – now entering its third week – continues to threaten global energy security.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring developments as diplomatic efforts intensify to prevent further disruption to essential civilian services.
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