France’s government is considering imposing an additional tax on companies that have made excessive or unexpected profits due to rising energy prices triggered by the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure indicated this in an interview with Sud Radio, saying that if certain firms earned exceptional profits in this situation, they could face extra taxation. He added that the final debate on the proposal is scheduled for the coming autumn.

Since the conflict began in late February, several opposition politicians in France have strongly advocated for a windfall tax on energy companies such as TotalEnergies. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, a route that previously carried about 20 percent of global oil shipments, has caused a severe energy crisis across Europe.

Rising fuel and food prices have slowed France’s economic growth, prompting the government to announce large-scale domestic financial support packages to protect households and businesses from the impact of the crisis.