France and UK Plan Multinational Task Force to Keep the Strait of Hormuz Open

French President Emmanuel Macron announced today (Monday) that his country will work to lead an international effort to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, in the coming days a joint conference will be convened with the participation of the United Kingdom and other countries, with the aim of establishing a multinational task force.

Macron stressed that this is a strictly defensive initiative that will operate separately from the parties involved in the fighting: "This mission, which is strictly defensive in nature and separate from the warring parties, will be intended to deploy immediately once the situation allows." He added: "No effort should be spared to quickly reach a stable and lasting resolution to the conflict in the Middle East by diplomatic means." He also said that "to achieve this, all the fundamental questions must be addressed with a stable response — both with regard to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and with regard to its actions that disrupt stability in the region."

The European initiative comes alongside measures being advanced by the United States. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is expected to enforce, starting at 5:00 p.m., restrictions on the movement of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with the directive of U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the command's statement, the measures will apply equally to vessels from all countries operating to and from Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

A spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards said today: "Securing Iran's territorial waters will continue — vessels belonging to the enemy are not entitled to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and will not pass, and other vessels will be able to continue to pass subject to Iran's rules of engagement." According to him, "We will implement a permanent mechanism for control of the Strait of Hormuz. The restriction of maritime traffic of vessels in international waters by America is an illegal act and constitutes maritime piracy."

The adviser to the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mehdi Mohammadi, claimed that Washington's policy is ineffective: "Trump is doing nothing but pursuing a two-track strategy of pressure and negotiation from the Obama era." According to him, "His difference is that, due to his inherent inexperience, this strategy is losing its credibility day by day on both tracks — pressure and negotiations. Pressure no longer has an effect and negotiations have no meaning."