France and UK to lead multinational mission to restore free, secure navigation in Strait of Hormuz: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced that France and the United Kingdom UK will jointly lead a multinational initiative aimed at restoring free and secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid uncertainties over the virtual control of the strategic waterway between the United States US and Iran news agency ANI reportedIn a post on X Macron said the move is part of broader diplomatic efforts to address escalating tensions in the Middle East and ensure longterm regional stability He emphasised that the mission would be strictly defensive and separate from any parties involved in ongoing hostilitiesMacron stated that France and the UK will convene a conference in the coming days with countries willing to contribute to a peaceful multinational mission to safeguard maritime traffic through the vital chokepoint which is crucial for global energy shipmentsRegarding the Strait of Hormuz we will organise with the United Kingdom in the coming days a conference with countries ready to contribute alongside us to a peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait This strictly defensive mission distinct from the belligerents will be deployed as soon as the situation allows Macron said in his postHe also linked the initiative to wider regional concerns including Irans nuclear and ballistic activities and what he described as destabilising actions in the region despite a twoweek ceasefire in place between the USIsrael coalition forces and Iran after over a month of conflict in the regionThe French President further said the effort is part of a broader push for diplomatic resolution of conflicts in West Asia including restoring stability in Lebanon while respecting sovereignty and territorial integrityWest Asia conflict Solid and lasting resolution in Middle East must be achieved through diplomacyNo effort must be spared to swiftly achieve a solid and lasting resolution to the conflict in the Middle East through diplomatic means A resolution that would enable the region to be endowed with a robust framework allowing each party to live in peace and security To achieve this all substantive issues must be addressed with lasting solutions whether concerning Irans nuclear and ballistic activities or its destabilising actions in the region but also to enable the resumption as quickly as possible of free and unhindered navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to ensure that Lebanon returns to the path of peace in full respect of its sovereignty and territorial integrity the post addedMacron reiterated that France is ready to play a full part in the initiative adding that the mission would be deployed once conditions allowThis remark by the French President comes amid escalating geopolitical friction after the US Central Command CENTCOM is set to enforce restrictions on maritime traffic linked to Iranian portsAccording to CENTCOM the measures are being implemented under a directive from US President Donald Trump and will apply uniformly to vessels of all nationalities operating in and out of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of OmanCENTCOM clarified that while the measures target port activity associated with Iran freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels transiting between nonIranian ports would remain unaffectedIn response Iranian authorities strongly criticised the US move warning that maritime security across the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman would be jeopardised if Irans security interests were threatenedA spokesperson for Irans Khatam alAnbiya Central Headquarters quoted by state media IRIB said that Tehran considers safeguarding national sovereignty in its territorial waters a natural and legal duty adding that maritime security must be ensured collectively by all regional actorsIran also reiterated that it would continue to enforce control over access through the Strait of Hormuz stating that vessels linked to hostile entities would not be permitted passage while others would be allowed transit under regulations set by Iranian authoritiesWith ANI inputs