US Hormuz coalition 'not in competition' with France-UK proposal, FM says

Published connected 01/05/2026 - 15:07 GMT+2•Updated 15:26

A connection for a caller US-led conjugation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would complement and not vie with a akin ngo spearheaded by France and the UK, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said connected Friday.

Speaking successful Abu Dhabi, Barrot said helium had briefed Gulf allies connected the UK-France inaugural which was present astatine an "advanced" stage.

It comes aft a US State Department announced connected Thursday the "Maritime Freedom Construct" (MFC), an inaugural that volition "take steps to guarantee harmless passage, including providing real-time information, information guidance, and coordination to guarantee vessels tin transit these waters securely."

The important strait, which usually carries one-fifth of the world's lipid and liquefied earthy gas, has been efficaciously blockaded by Iran since the commencement of the war, sending prices soaring and choking commercialized networks.

Washington's ain blockade of Iranian ports and vessels further curtailed postulation done the strait.

The UK and France person led talks connected a abstracted maritime effort, precocious holding a gathering with much than 50 countries.

The US ngo is "not of the aforesaid quality arsenic the 1 we established ... it comes arsenic a benignant of complement", Barrot said.

"It is not successful contention with the inaugural we person launched and connected which we are focused."

The Wall Street Journal reported that a diplomatic cablegram called connected US embassies to property overseas governments to instrumentality portion successful the US-led effort.

Asked whether France would articulation Washington's initiative, Barrot said helium could not remark astatine this stage.

“The readying has been finalised,” for the UK-France mission, Barrot said. “I person travel to contiguous the conception of this ngo to a fig of our closest partners successful the region."

US President Donald Trump has lashed retired astatine allies' reluctance to get progressive successful the US-Israeli warfare connected Iran and antecedently urged oil-reliant nations to instrumentality work for reopening the Straight of Hormuz.

Iran has vowed not to reopen the waterway arsenic agelong arsenic the US blocks its ports.

Policy imposition

Meanwhile, Iran's judiciary main Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said connected Friday that Tehran remained unfastened to talks with the US but would not judge what helium called a argumentation "imposition."

"The Islamic Republic has ne'er shied distant from negotiations ... but we surely bash not judge imposition," Ejei said successful a video carried by the judiciary-run Mizan Online website.

"We bash not invited warfare successful immoderate way; we bash not privation war, we bash not privation its continuation," helium said.

He insisted that Tehran was "absolutely not consenting to wantonness our principles and values successful the look of this malicious force successful bid to debar warfare oregon forestall its continuation."

Iran and the US held a azygous circular of talks successful Pakistan successful mid-April, but they ended without a breakthrough and person since stalled.

Nuclear programme

Meanwhile, Iran’s caller Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei defiantly vowed to support the country's atomic and rocket capabilities, which Trump has sought to curtail done aerial strikes.

In different connection work retired connected authorities television, helium allegedly said the lone spot Americans belonged successful the Persian Gulf is "at the bottommost of its waters" and that a "new chapter" was being written successful the region's history.

The younger Khamenei has not been seen successful nationalist since taking implicit arsenic ayatollah pursuing the sidesplitting of his begetter and predecessor Ali Khamenei successful the war’s opening salvos connected 28 February, prompting questions implicit his condition.

His remarks travel arsenic Iran's already shaky system is reeling arsenic its currency rial deed a caller low, portion its lipid manufacture is being squeezed by the US blockade connected its ports.

Additional sources • AP, AFP