FRANCE AND UK BACK STRAIT OF HORMUZ REOPENING BUT PUSH FOR PERMANENT MARITIME SECURITY MISSION AMID US-IRAN TENSIONS. (PHOTO).

 France and UK back Strait of Hormuz reopening but push for permanent maritime security mission amid US-Iran tensions

PARIS - France and the U.K. have welcomed reports that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened to commercial shipping following announcements by U.S. and Iranian officials, while stressing that freedom of navigation in the critical oil route must be made permanent. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said planning would continue for an international maritime security mission, with military planners set to meet in London next week. Starmer said the deployment would go ahead “as soon as conditions allow,” while Macron called for the “full, immediate and unconditional reopening” of the strait by all parties following a meeting of roughly 50 countries and international organizations.

The developments came as oil prices fell sharply after Iranian and U.S. officials signaled that commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz would resume under a temporary ceasefire arrangement. Iran’s foreign minister said passage would remain open during the truce period, while the U.S. president said naval pressure on Iranian assets would continue until broader terms were finalized. The mixed signals added uncertainty for global energy markets, which rely heavily on the waterway that carries a significant share of the world’s seaborne oil.

The Paris gathering brought together European and global partners seeking to coordinate a response to the crisis, though the United States was not part of the proposed maritime initiative. Macron described the planned effort as a neutral mission aimed at escorting commercial vessels and improving maritime security without direct involvement from the parties to the conflict. Starmer, meeting Macron in Paris alongside several European leaders, said the mission would be strictly defensive and focused on protecting shipping and supporting mine clearance operations.

Military planning discussions have already begun among participating countries, with more than a dozen reportedly expressing interest in contributing assets. Proposed roles include mine detection, intelligence sharing, and logistical support, rather than large-scale naval escort operations, which analysts say would require far more vessels than most countries can provide. Some European officials have also suggested that the mission could serve as a demonstration of independent security capabilities, separate from the United States.

The proposal has drawn varied international reactions, including calls for broader participation from allies and debate over the mission’s legal and operational framework. As discussions continue, officials acknowledged that the scope of contributions remains limited and that significant challenges remain in sustaining safe passage through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.