Paris, France – In an escalation reflecting the level of tension in international waterways, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that his country completely rules out lifting any economic sanctions imposed on Iran as long as its armed forces continue to close the Strait of Hormuz or threaten global shipping traffic in it.
A firm French condition
In a candid interview with French broadcaster RTL, broadcast by Al Jazeera, Barrot emphasized that France and the European Union have exerted considerable effort in imposing stringent sanctions on the Iranian regime as a result of its destabilizing policies. The French minister stated unequivocally: “It is impossible to lift any sanctions, no matter how severe, as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed by Iranian forces.”
The French foreign minister stressed that freedom of navigation in the strategic strait is non-negotiable, stating, “It cannot be blocked, subjected to tolls, or used as a tool for international pressure or blackmail.” These remarks come in response to repeated Iranian attempts to use the strait as leverage. It is worth noting that approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption passes through the strait, making it a bargaining chip in the face of Western sanctions.
Messages to Paris and Tehran
Observers believe the French stance represents an early veto against any Iranian attempts to ease economic pressure through diplomatic channels, unless Tehran abandons its militarization of waterways.
The decision also reflects close Western coordination to protect global energy flows from Tehran’s brinkmanship policies in the Arabian Gulf region.
With this statement, Paris puts the ball in the court of the Iranian leadership; either to abide by international laws that guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, or to continue under the weight of sanctions that are crippling the Iranian economy and increasing its international isolation.
