Iran has dismissed French claims about participating in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that securing the waterway and conducting any such operations are its responsibilities, and it will not permit any foreign nation to partake in this task.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi declared that his country "will not, in principle, allow any nation to be involved in mine-clearing in the Strait of Hormuz," emphasizing that Tehran alone will oversee this mission.
He added that the situation in the Strait is "sensitive and complex," cautioning France against actions that might exacerbate tensions, and urging Paris to avoid what he labeled as "provocations."
Iran's stance came in response to French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement, made after meeting Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in which Paris and Muscat agreed to participate, in coordination with partners, in mine-clearing efforts in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure maritime security and free passage in this crucial waterway.
Macron, in a post on the 'X' platform, affirmed that both sides agreed to continue coordinating and collaborating to reduce tensions in the Middle East.
This difference in viewpoint highlights ongoing disagreements between Tehran and some Western nations regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz’s security, one of the key maritime routes for global energy trade, amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts to establish stability and ensure freedom of navigation in the region.