French President Emmanuel Macron warned that using force to open the Strait of Hormuz is not actually feasible and that only talks with Iran have a chance of success.
On 2 Apr 2026 GMT+7, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that launching military operations to forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz is "not consistent with reality" after U.S. President Donald Trump challenged allies to find a way to open the shipping route themselves.
The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 Feb 2026 GMT+7 have triggered Iranian retaliations against Israel, U.S. bases in Gulf countries, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping lane transporting about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.
"Some support the idea of liberating the Strait of Hormuz by force through military operations, a position the U.S. has shown at times, despite some changes," Macron told reporters during a visit to South Korea.
"This has never been an option we support because it is not consistent with reality," he said. "It would drag on endlessly and put anyone navigating the strait at risk from the Revolutionary Guard forces, including guided missiles."
Macron emphasized that success depends solely on dialogue with Iran. "What we have said from the start is that this strait must be reopened because it is a strategic point for the flow of energy, fertilizers, and international trade. But this can only happen through discussions with Iran."
When asked about Trump's criticism of NATO allies and threats to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance, Macron said, "I do not want to criticize operations that Americans have decided to undertake with Israel on their own. They might complain about lack of support, but those are not our operations. We want peace to be achieved as soon as possible."
"This is not a performance," Macron added. "We are talking about war and peace... let's be serious and not say one thing today and another tomorrow," he said without explicitly naming Trump.
On Trump's threat to withdraw the U.S. from NATO, Macron commented, "An alliance like NATO remains strong because of unspoken trust behind it. If you sow doubt about your own treaty commitments every day, you undermine its very essence."
Additionally, the French leader said Trump's mocking remarks about him and his wife were "neither dignified nor appropriate" given the current situation.
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Source:cna