France and Britain said on Friday that they would lead an international mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the force would be fully defensive and would only be deployed once a lasting peace in the region had been agreed.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the force was being set up as they led international talks in Paris aimed at ensuring free trade through the vital shipping route.
The meeting, held mainly through video, brought together a total of 49 countries from Europe and Asia, which were represented at various levels, including several heads of state and government.
Neither the United States nor Iran, as belligerents, participated in the meeting.
Iran imposed restrictions as soon as the US and Israel launched a war against the Islamic republic on February 28. The economic repercussions rippled across the world, causing fears of inflation, worries about oil supplies and worries about food shortages.
But markets reacted with relief when Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said – in a social media post published as the Paris talks continued – that the Strait of Hormuz is now open to commercial shipping as long as the ceasefire in the Middle East continues.
