Key facts
- France and the UK are preparing a multinational naval mission for the Strait of Hormuz.
- President Macron warned Iran against imposing tolls on ships traversing the strait.
- The mission aims to reassure shipping and insurers by clearing mines and potentially providing military escorts.
- The G7 nations, including France, the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada, have committed to playing a part in reopening the waterway.
- France's President Macron stated that French fighter aircraft could participate in observation missions as soon as Tuesday, followed by frigates and the aircraft carrier within days.
- Iran has confirmed it will charge fees for ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
France and the United Kingdom are preparing a multinational naval mission for the Strait of Hormuz, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning Iran against imposing tolls on ships traversing the vital waterway. The mission, which could deploy within days, aims to reassure shipping and insurers by clearing mines and potentially providing military escorts.
Macron stated that the G7 nations are committed to ensuring the strait reopens and that four countries are ready for a mission that could deploy within two to three days. He indicated that French fighter aircraft could participate in observation missions as soon as Tuesday, followed by frigates within 48 hours and the aircraft carrier within two to three days. The mission is proposed as a follow-up to a deal to end the Iran war, aiming to ensure unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation.
Iran has confirmed it will charge fees for ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, a move that France opposes. U.S. President Donald Trump, however, suggested that the strait is already opening due to a tentative deal with Iran, but did not dismiss the idea of allied naval presence.
The envisioned mission would involve mine-clearing vessels to remove underwater dangers and potentially military escorts. France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, is already in the region, and other nations like the Netherlands, Italy, and the U.K. could also contribute. French frigates have previously demonstrated expertise in escorting civilian ships through hostile fire, having defended cargo vessels against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.