Emmanuel Macron asserted on Sunday that France had “never considered” a naval military “deployment” in the Strait of Hormuz, but rather a security mission “coordinated with Iran.”
At a press conference in Nairobi, the French president reiterated that he was sticking to “this position,” which is to oppose “any blockade, regardless of its origin,” whether American or Iranian, and to “refuse any toll, regardless of its origin,” in order to “allow freedom of navigation.”
He was responding to Iran, which on Sunday threatened a “decisive and immediate response” in the event of French and British deployments in the Strait of Hormuz, following the announcement by Paris and London of the deployment of warships to the region.
“There has never been any question of a deployment, but we are ready,” Emmanuel Macron insisted.
France announced last week that its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle had transited the Suez Canal to be ready in case of a future deployment of such a mission.
LCI provides an update.