French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday (December 12th) hit out at Iran, accusing the Islamic Republic of trying to carve out an "axis" of influence stretching through Syria to the Mediterranean Sea, AFP reported.

Speaking about the role of Iran in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regain the upper hand in the civil war, Le Drian said: "Iran supplies its militia and supports [the pro-Iranian Lebanese militant group] Hizbullah."

"Iran's presence [in Syria] and Iran's desire to create an axis from the Mediterranean to Tehran: No!" Le Drian declared in a France 2 television programme on Syria to air Tuesday evening.

He insisted that any deal on Syria's future needed to ensure it remained "independent from the pressure and presence of other countries".

This is not the first time Le Drian has expressed concern over Iran's intervention in conflicts.

In remarks following a visit to Saudi Arabia by French President Emmanuel Macron in November, Le Drian accused Iran of having "hegemonic" intentions in the region.