French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu attend a meeting of France's defense and security council, at the Elysée Palace in Paris, France, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. BENOIT TESSIER / AP
France is ready to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz but only once the situation has become "calmer," said President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
His comments follow US President Donald Trump's demand that allies help secure the waterway effectively shut by Iran in response to the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
Read more Subscribers only Trump agitated and exasperated by continued blocking of strategic Strait of Hormuz
Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50% since Iran started attacking shipping in the critical waterway and launched waves of missile and drone strikes across the Gulf.
