Macron Calls Military Action in Strait of Hormuz 'Unrealistic,' Urges Diplomacy
He stressed that reopening the strait could “only be done in concert with Iran,” calling instead for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomatic negotiations.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday dismissed the prospect of a military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as “unrealistic,” warning that such a move would be dangerous, time-consuming, and ineffective without cooperation from Iran.
Speaking during a visit to South Korea, Macron stated that proposals—sometimes voiced by Donald Trump—to secure the vital oil shipping route forcibly were not a viable solution.
“There are those who advocate for the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz by force,” Macron said. “We consider it unrealistic.”
Macron cautioned that any such operation would expose shipping lanes to serious threats, particularly from Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which he noted possesses significant military capabilities, including ballistic missiles.
He stressed that reopening the strait could “only be done in concert with Iran,” calling instead for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomatic negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz—through which a large portion of the world’s oil supply passes—has been largely paralyzed in recent weeks amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, contributing to rising global energy prices.
Trump, however, has taken a different stance, making the reopening of the strait a condition for a ceasefire. In a White House address on Wednesday, he argued that countries dependent on oil shipments through the route should take responsibility for securing it.
“You know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm’s way over there,” Trump said, suggesting nations such as Japan, China, and South Korea should play a larger role.
Macron also expressed frustration with what he described as inconsistent messaging from Trump regarding both the Iran conflict and the NATO alliance.
“When you want to be serious, you don’t say the opposite every day of what you said the day before,” Macron said, warning that such unpredictability risks undermining trust among allies.
He added that repeated public statements casting doubt on commitments to NATO could weaken the alliance’s cohesion.
Addressing recent comments by Trump that mocked Macron’s marriage and accent, the French president said they were “neither elegant nor up to standard” and did not warrant a response.
Macron’s remarks come amid growing international concern that the ongoing conflict could expand further, with global economic and security implications tied closely to the stability of the Strait of Hormuz.