Evian: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that a joint military operation set up by France and Britain to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is fully prepared for deployment, coming shortly after Washington and Tehran announced they had reached an agreement to end the Middle East war.
The French leader’s statement followed news that the United States and Iran successfully negotiated terms to terminate the conflict that the US and Israel began against Iran in February, with the peace deal scheduled for formal signing this Friday in Switzerland according to officials from both sides, as reported by Arab News.
During preparations for a G7 summit where Macron will welcome US President Donald Trump later on Monday, the French president confirmed the UK-France partnership is operationally ready. He stated that the mission’s “assets are in place and ready to be deployed.”
“The resumption of maritime traffic, without restrictions or tolls, is an essential condition for regional stability and the global economy,” Macron wrote in a post on X.
German Minister Presses For Complete Access
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul issued parallel demands on Monday, stating that the Strait of Hormuz must regain full navigability without constraints following the US-Iran agreement.
“It must be made clear that the Strait of Hormuz is once again open to shipping, without any restrictions whatsoever and without any possibility of levying customs duties or similar charges,” Wadephul said before meeting with European counterparts in Luxembourg.
Key Energy Waterway Remains Closed
The Strait of Hormuz functions as a critical artery for global energy supplies, but Iranian forces have effectively closed the passage since the war began, creating what monitoring systems describe as a near-total standstill. Trading data confirms the strait has remained “CLOSED Since February 27, 2026,” with more than 150 vessels—including oil tankers and cargo ships—stranded in the region.
The waterway handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas, making its closure a major threat to international energy markets.
