French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Iran against imposing any tolls or fees on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, saying international law must be upheld and global shipping routes kept open.
Macron spoke ahead of the G7 summit in France, where he said efforts must be made to ensure there is no charge for passage through the strategic waterway, a key route for global energy shipments.
His comments follow reports from Iranian media suggesting Tehran had included a clause on maritime service fees in a framework agreement with the United States aimed at ending the Middle East conflict.
Macron said the agreement had already been signed electronically, with remaining annexes expected to be finalised later, but stressed he would not go into further details.
He said France and the United Kingdom were preparing a joint maritime mission to ensure the Strait remains open, adding that France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle could be deployed within days if needed.
European countries, he said, are closely watching developments, as any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz could affect global energy supplies and push up prices.
Macron also said Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles must be placed under international supervision, either removed or diluted under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
He insisted the objective remains the reopening and securing of the Strait, while preventing any action that could destabilise global trade.
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