Mariem Njeh
April 14, 2026 – Last updated: April 14, 2026
AA / Istanbul / Mariem Njeh
France and the United Kingdom are asserting themselves as the main architects of a possible multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but the two European powers maintain a clear stance: no military deployment will be considered until a permanent ceasefire is in place, according to diplomatic sources cited by Bloomberg and Reuters.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a video conference on Friday involving about 40 countries willing to contribute to this initiative, their respective offices announced on Tuesday. High-ranking diplomats will hold a preparatory meeting in advance.
France focusing on military aspect, UK on diplomatic
According to a source close to the discussions cited by Reuters, the work is organized around four working groups: defending freedom of navigation and maritime security; adopting economic measures against Iran if the strait remains closed; freeing blocked sailors and ships; and coordinating with the maritime industry to prepare for the resumption of transit.
The same source specified that London is leading the diplomatic aspect, while Paris is in charge of military planning, evaluating the resources available from participating nations and their deployment methods.
On the military side, France supports the concept of an “escort system” and advocates for a “peaceful multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation in the strait,” according to Macron. The French president, however, emphasized the “strictly defensive nature” of such a mission, which would only be deployed “as the situation allows.”
Additionally, France imposes a crucial condition on the composition of the coalition: France wants the mission to be closely coordinated with Tehran, which would imply excluding countries that have antagonized Iran, according to French officials cited by Bloomberg. Several allies also believe that American participation would be counterproductive, as it would reinforce Iranian reluctance.
London favors drones, Paris prefers escorts
The two powers do not yet fully agree on the operational details of such a mission, as reported by Bloomberg. The UK is prioritizing the deployment of autonomous mine detection systems in the region, rather than warships tasked with escorting tankers.
UN mandate deemed necessary but difficult to obtain
Paris and London are, however, aligned on the need to obtain a mandate from the United Nations for any operation. Diplomats acknowledge that such a mandate would be difficult to secure, as the United States, China, and Russia all need to give their approval, according to Bloomberg.
Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz since the start of American-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, except for ships carrying its own oil. On Monday, Washington imposed a blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. American President Donald Trump called on allies to join this blockade, a request rejected by France, the United Kingdom, and other partners, who believe participating would mean entering a war.
Peace talks currently underway are influencing all planning, with diplomats preferring to wait for the outcome before finalizing the details of a mission, as indicated by Bloomberg. Any operation would also only materialize once the conflict is over and with some form of agreement from both Iran and the United States.
