France exploring UN route to unblock Strait of Hormuz, Macron says

BRUSSELS — French President Emmanuel Macron said France was looking into ways of unblocking the Strait of Hormuz by acting at the United Nations level.

“We have begun an exploratory process, and we will see in the coming days if it has a chance of succeeding,” Macron announced on Friday in response to a question from POLITICO after a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.

The French president said that he “explained to the U.N. Secretary-General [António Guterres] this afternoon that France intends to sound out its main partners, and in particular the members of the Security Council, on whether it would be appropriate to establish a U.N. framework for what we want to do in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Macron said that he discussed that idea with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a call on Thursday morning and with Guterres, who on Thursday joined the European Council for lunch. Macron then informed other EU leaders.

Guterres told leaders it was important for the Global South that any initiative on clearing the Strait of Hormuz go through the United Nations, according to one EU diplomat. Earlier in the day, a second diplomat told POLITICO that such an initiative could consist of a resolution that might win support from Gulf and European countries, creating a basis for a broader coalition to secure the vital waterway.

Iran has largely sealed off the critical maritime artery that carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply, driving up global energy prices.

Macron said he would test the chances of success of the U.N. initiative, without giving further details on the plan. “I think this is something that could help. I am prudent because it doesn’t only depend on us,” he said.