Global outcry in Paris for a total and unconditional reopening of Hormuz

ParisIn full negotiations between the United States and Iran for the end of the conflict, about sixty countries met this Friday in Paris to prepare an international military mission, "strictly defensive" to guarantee navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. It is a mission promoted by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and it is conditioned on a scenario of peace in the region.

While the Paris conference was being held Iran has announced that it will unblock Hormuz, at least until the end of April. Despite this, the Iranian regime has clarified that navigation will be conditioned on the payment of a toll and that ships must follow a specific route imposed by Tehran. The President of the USA, Donald Trump, has also announced the unblocking of the strait by Washington for all ships except those from Iran.

The news of the reopening of Hormuz has been well received by the sixty countriesThe ships of the mission could also support the demining tasks of the Strait of HormuzFew details are known about the future mission, but the idea is that, when the ceasefire is definitive, the countries will deploy ships and other military means to ensure that there are no tolls and that maritime transport vessels can circulate without problems and with security. Each country will be able to contribute with the means it voluntarily has, whether with ships, planes or surveillance capabilities. According to Starmer, there are a dozen countries that have already confirmed their contribution. Next week London will host another meeting, this time with commanders or military political leaders, to finalize the mission.

The ships of the mission could also support the demining tasks of the Strait of Hormuz, although Trump has rejected international aid in a message on Truth Social warning NATO to stay out. "Iran, with the help of the United States, has removed, or is removing, all sea mines," he wrote in a first message.

In another, he has referred to the Atlantic Alliance and has branded its partners "useless". "Now that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has ended, I have received a call from NATO asking if we needed help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, unless they only want to load their ships with oil. They were of little use when they were needed," the American president stated in his usual dismissive tone.

International priority

. 20% of oil circulates through the strait and its blockade has had economic effects on half the world that have impacted citizens' pockets. Most European countries do not have fuel supply problems, but the price of gasoline and diesel has skyrocketed and has forced governments like the Spanish one to implement measures to curb the impact. Resolving the problem is urgent: the longer the blockade lasts, the more serious the economic consequences will be.Macron, Starmer, the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, attended the conference in person. The rest of the leaders – or ministers – participated by videoconference. Neither Trump nor any representative of the American administration attended the meeting and, in fact, the US presence in the future mission is a matter of controversy. Paris argues that the United States, which is part of the conflict, should not participate, at least directly. Germany, on the other hand, argues that the country should be part of the mission.

Third diplomatic path

According to sources at the Elysée Palace, with this conference Macron wants to promote a "third way" in the conflict in Iran. That is to say, a group of countries that have not aligned themselves with either Washington or Tehran – nor with Israel –, that are committed to respect for international and maritime law, and that are willing to get involved to find a diplomatic way to the conflict and the blockade of Hormuz.

The French president hopes that the conference this Friday, and the success of the call it has had, will serve to exert pressure on the US president, Donald Trump, and the Iranian regime, with a view to making the ceasefire definitive.