The Strait of Hormuz cannot realistically be reopened by force, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, rejecting suggestions that military action could quickly restore shipping through the strategic waterway. Instead, he called for a ceasefire, renewed negotiations and direct engagement with Iran.
Macron spoke during a visit to South Korea, where he said a military operation would take too long and expose vessels to severe risks. He warned that ships trying to cross would face threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, coastal defenses and ballistic missiles. Therefore, he said, force was not the option France had chosen.
Strait of Hormuz at center of energy crisis
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important routes for oil and gas shipments. However, it has been largely paralyzed for weeks because of the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. That disruption has intensified pressure on energy prices, trade and global supply chains.
Macron said the strait must reopen because it is vital for energy flows, fertilizer supplies and international commerce. Even so, he argued that reopening it could only happen in consultation with Iran. As a result, he placed diplomacy ahead of military escalation.
Macron criticizes Trump’s shifting messages
Macron also criticized President Donald Trump for sending inconsistent messages on the Iran war. Without naming every contradiction directly, he said serious leadership requires a stable position rather than changing direction from one day to the next.
He extended that criticism to NATO, saying Trump was undermining confidence in the alliance by creating daily uncertainty about U.S. commitment. Macron added that the U.S. and Israel had chosen their operation on their own, and Europe was not responsible for carrying it forward. For France, he said, the priority remains peace as soon as possible.
