NATO and European Defense

France’s ambassador to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonnafont, says Paris has “very strongly” condemned Iran’s increasingly violent crackdown on nationwide protests and is considering providing satellite communication terminals operated by French firm Eutelsat to help Iranians bypass a near‑total internet shutdown. In an interview, he highlighted existing French and EU sanctions on Iran’s police and more than 200 officials and pointed to a fresh G‑7 statement — including the U.S. — warning of additional restrictive measures if Tehran continues its repression. The potential satellite support would mirror earlier Starlink debates by effectively punching a hole in regime censorship and could deepen Iran–West tensions if implemented. Bonnafont sidestepped whether France will back Israel’s push to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization at the EU level, instead stressing broader pressure and messaging to both the regime and the Iranian public. He also echoed long‑standing French calls for greater European defense “autonomy” within NATO, as the Trump administration keeps pressing allies to carry more of the security burden.