- France chooses “the diplomatic route” to resolve the question of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Furthermore, the country supports its allies in the region, “as long as it is a defensive approach”, affirmed the Minister of the Armed Forces.
- On LCI, Catherine Vautrin takes stock of France’s position in the conflict.
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Middle East: tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, fragile ceasefire in Lebanon
Iran recently raised its voice against France. Any deployment of French and British ships in the Strait of Hormuz “will encounter a firm and immediate response from the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran”
said Kazem Gharibabadi, the Iranian deputy foreign minister.
Faced with threats from the Iranian authorities, Catherine Vautrin, the Minister of the Armed Forces, recalls on LCI: “France has been in dialogue since day one. The president has always said that France’s will is the diplomatic route.”
“France and the United Kingdom, since April 17, have been working on a multinational military mission, in order to
secure the strait
as soon as the deconfliction takes place. And so, it is, under no circumstances, an idea to threaten Iran.”
she assured. Hammering: “There is no action in the Strait until there is deconfliction.”
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“When we talk about allowing movement in the strait, it is through diplomatic channels,”
to specify to the minister. “Secondly, we will work with insurers and shipowners so that they can hire boats and, at that point, this could lead to support and security by the forces if necessary,”
she added.
Defense agreements
Furthermore, France has defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. “In March, the President of the Republic was contacted, in particular by these countries, which were attacked and which asked France to help them defend themselves”
indicated Catherine Vautrin.
France has a reliable word.
France has a reliable word.
Catherine Vautrin, Minister of the Armed Forces
“France has a reliable word. When an ally with whom we are united by a defense agreement requests a defensive position, France is there. And that is what we did thanks to the dexterity of our pilots, who were able to help these countries and to shoot down, in particular, drones, way to preserve security in the skies of these countries”
she detailed. And to conclude: “Whatever happens, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates can count on France’s help, as long as it is a defensive step.”
