Macron calls military reopening of Strait of Hormuz unrealistic
Photo: Emmanuel Macron, President of France (Getty Images)
French President Emmanuel Macron said attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by military means are unrealistic, Bloomberg reports.
Macron said such an operation would take an uncertain amount of time and expose participants to risks from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including ballistic missiles.
"This has never been the option that we’ve chosen, and we think it’s unrealistic," he said.
According to him, the first step should be a ceasefire, followed by the resumption of negotiations, while security missions could ensure that ships are not targeted.
"The world can’t live either with a situation where Iran could decide to open or close the strait from one day to the next," the President added.
Situation around the Strait of Hormuz
After the start of US and Israeli operations against Iran, Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy artery. Around 20% of global oil consumption and a significant share of liquefied natural gas pass through it.
The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump told his aides he is ready to end the war against Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.
Later, the US President said the war with Iran would likely end soon. At the same time, he added that other countries using the strait would be able to reopen it on their own.
