France 'not sending any vessels to the Strait of Hormuz', Defence Minister Vautrin says
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As Iran’s new supreme leader calls for the Strait of Hormuz to remain closed, France’s Minister of Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs, Catherine Vautrin, says Paris has no plans to send naval vessels to the strategic waterway. In an interview with FRANCE 24, she also stressed that France is not participating in the war in the Middle East.
“At this point, there is no question of sending any vessels to the Strait of Hormuz,” the minister said.
The conflict in the Middle East has paralysed shipping through the strait, disrupting global energy flows.
In his first message since being elected supreme leader, broadcast on state television, Mojtaba Khamenei said Thursday that the closing of the waterway should be used as leverage.
Unclear objectives
Asked about the goals of the United States and Israel in the conflict, Vautrin said the situation remains uncertain.
“We don’t know what the final effect is,” she said, referring to the ultimate objective sought by Washington and Tel Aviv.
She also questioned whether the two allies share the same end goals.
“You see, there you have two countries that went into war, and we don’t know if they have the exact same wishes,” she said. “So if the Americans were to stop, would the Israelis stop at the same time? That’s still a question we have.”
Echoing comments by President Emmanuel Macron, Vautrin said France’s priority remains diplomacy.
“Our thinking was [that] this is a diplomatic mission,” she said, reiterating that “France is not participating in this war.”
