Macron rejects military option to reopen Hormuz as “unrealistic”

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz through military force is “unrealistic,” rejecting proposals that have at times been advocated by the United States.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, April 2, during a visit to South Korea, Macron addressed suggestions that a military operation could be used to restore access to the strategic waterway. “There are people who advocate the idea of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by force, through a military operation, a position that has at times been expressed by the United States,” he said. “That has never been the option we have chosen, and we consider it unrealistic.”

Macron warned that any such operation would be highly complex and prolonged, arguing it “would take an infinite amount of time” and would expose vessels transiting the strait to significant security risks. He specifically pointed to threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, noting its capabilities, including ballistic missiles, as well as other dangers that could endanger maritime traffic.

According to Macron, reopening the Strait of Hormuz can only be achieved through coordination with Iran, emphasising that negotiations would be required following a potential ceasefire in the broader conflict.

France is instead advocating for the creation of an international mission involving both European and non-European countries. Such a mission would aim to escort oil and gas tankers and help restore safe passage through the strait once the most intense phase of the conflict has subsided.

By Tamilla Hasanova