French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as the waterway's two-month closure has stranded oil tankers and cargo vessels amid a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Macron disclosed on social media that he had spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing “deep concern over the ongoing escalation” and condemning what he described as “unjustified strikes against Emirati civilian infrastructure and several ships.”
“All parties must lift the blockade of the Strait, without delay and without conditions,” Macron wrote in a translated post. “We must durably return to the regime of full freedom of navigation that prevailed before the conflict.” The French leader also said he plans to discuss Iran’s peace proposal with President Donald Trump, signaling a potential diplomatic opening after weeks of stalemate.
Macron highlighted the role of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is currently deployed as part of a multinational mission to escort vessels through the strait. He argued that the carrier’s “pre-positioning” would “help restore confidence among ship owners and insurers,” a crucial step for restarting global trade flows through the chokepoint.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil exports transit, has been effectively shut since Iran began blocking shipping in late January. The closure has sent shockwaves through global energy markets and raised alarms in Europe, which faces potential jet fuel shortages if the blockade persists. Macron’s intervention comes as European leaders have largely remained on the sidelines while the U.S. and Israel conducted strikes against Iranian targets.
“The return of calm in the Strait will help advance negotiations on the nuclear issue, the ballistic issue, and the regional situation,” Macron’s post concluded. “The Europeans, on whom the lifting of sanctions depends, will take their place in this process.”
Trump, meanwhile, has threatened to resume bombing if a deal with Iran collapses. A one-page memorandum of understanding currently under discussion would create a 30-day window to negotiate a more detailed agreement to reopen the strait, curb Iran’s nuclear program, and lift U.S. sanctions, according to Axios. On Truth Social, Trump wrote that if a deal is reached—which he called “perhaps a big assumption”—the U.S. operation “Epic Fury” would end, and the “highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.”
Ending Epic Fury would mark a significant shift for Trump, who has faced mounting economic pressure over the strait’s closure. The president also paused the separate U.S. operation “Project Freedom” on Tuesday, a temporary defense effort to enable safe shipping. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that at least two U.S. commercial ships, along with American destroyers, have already passed through the strait.
The diplomatic maneuvering comes as Trump halts his Iran strait campaign amid emerging deal framework, and as oil prices tumble on hopes of a U.S.-Iran accord. Macron’s call for unconditional reopening adds European weight to the push for a resolution, though Iran’s stance remains uncertain.
