French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that using military force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is “unrealistic,” urging instead a diplomatic approach involving direct engagement with Iran to resolve the escalating crisis.
Speaking to reporters during a trip to Seoul on Thursday, Macron dismissed the feasibility of military intervention, citing the risks and uncertainty such an operation would entail.
“This has never been the option that we’ve chosen and we think it’s unrealistic,” Macron said. “We must be able to reopen this strait because it’s strategic for energy, fertilizers, and international trade, but it can only be done in consultation with Iran.”
Macron stressed that any attempt to forcibly reopen the vital waterway would expose involved nations to significant threats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the potential use of ballistic missiles, and could drag on indefinitely without guaranteeing success.
He outlined a diplomatic pathway to de-escalation, beginning with a ceasefire, followed by renewed negotiations and reassurance missions aimed at ensuring the safety of shipping in the region.
“The world can’t live either with a situation where Iran could decide to open or close the strait from one day to the next,” Macron added.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports typically pass, has become a flashpoint in the escalating Middle East conflict, with shipping disruptions sending shockwaves through global energy markets.
Macron’s comments come amid heightened rhetoric from Donald Trump, who said in a social media post that the United States is “blasting Iran into oblivion” until the strait is reopened, signalling a far more aggressive stance from Washington.
The French leader also cautioned that military action would not resolve broader concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme, warning that without sustained diplomatic engagement, any temporary gains could quickly unravel.
“A targeted military operation, even over several weeks, can’t resolve the nuclear issue in the long-term,” Macron said. “If there is no diplomatic and technical negotiation framework, the situation could deteriorate again within months or years.”
He further referenced past claims that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been neutralised, casting doubt on such assertions.
“I would remind you that six months ago, we were told everything had been destroyed, that everything was settled and done with,” Macron said.
Erizia Rubyjeana
