French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrault said that the international mission to escort the ships will operate “after calm is restored” and exclusively in a defensive mode, in accordance with international law.
“The situation is getting worse every day due to the lack of shipping from the Gulf to the rest of the world,” Barro said.
The ministers noted the importance of freedom of navigation and united action by the world community.
The United States, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is inviting its allies to prepare a multinational mission specifically for the post-war period, because the first tankers after the end of the conflict will need escort to obtain insurance.
Rubio also warned that Tehran could try to establish a permanent blockade of the strait after the fighting ends.
Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and more than 30 other countries have signed a statement of readiness to help “ensure safe passage,” but specific timeframes and implementation mechanisms have not yet been determined.
Context
Against the backdrop of the war between the United States and Israel with Iran, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important routes for global oil trade, through which millions of barrels of crude oil and petroleum products pass from the Middle East to Asia, Europe and the United States every day, has practically stopped since March 1. Oil prices began to rise sharply.
On March 10, information appeared in the media that Iran had allegedly begun mining the strait. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US Navy will escort tankers from companies that cooperate with the Americans through the Strait of Hormuz.
On March 14, US President Donald Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK and other countries to send their ships to create conditions of openness and security in the Strait of Hormuz.
On March 17, White House adviser Kevin Hassett said that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was supposedly being restored, and Iran's attempts to restrict shipping on this route had not caused damage to the US economy. On the same day, the head of European diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, proposed introducing an analogue of the “grain agreement” that was concluded during the Russian-Ukrainian war to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
