War in the Middle East: Emmanuel Macron condemns Iranian strikes "unacceptable" against the Emirates

The tone is firm. Emmanuel Macron denounced, Tuesday, May 5, “unacceptable” Iranian strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates, in a context of growing tensions in the Gulf around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

These attacks mark a turning point: they are the first strikes against a Gulf country since almost a month of truce between Tehran and Washington. On the ground, an oil site in Fujairah was hit by a drone, causing a fire and causing several injuries. The UAE authorities also claim to have intercepted cruise missiles launched from Iran.

This new escalation comes at a time when the region is already under high tension since the outbreak, on February 28, of the war between the United States and Israel and the Islamic Republic. At the heart of the tensions: the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage through which approximately a fifth of global oil consumption passes.

Maersk announces that one of its ships left the Strait of Hormuz under American escort

Faced with the blockage of this strategic route by Tehran, Donald Trump launched a military operation called “Project Freedom” to secure maritime traffic. Washington claims that several ships have already been able to pass through the area, despite Iranian threats and skirmishes at sea.

In this explosive context, calls for de-escalation are increasing. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran to resume negotiations, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Tehran to “stop holding the region and the world hostage.”

On the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi assured that his country was not seeking to target the Emirates, while denouncing “American military adventurism”. He also insisted on the absence of a military solution to the crisis.

But on the ground, incidents are increasing: drone attacks, exchanges of fire at sea and ships trapped in the strait. The shipping giant Maersk also announced that one of its ships was able to leave the area under American escort on Tuesday, illustrating the fragility of the situation.