Italy, Germany, France delay Hormuz action until after ceasefire
The coast of Iran and the port of Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands are prepared to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Euractiv reported on March 20.
However, Italy, Germany, and France later clarified that a military deployment would be possible only after a ceasefire.
In a joint statement, the six major international powers condemned “in the strongest terms” recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels and welcomed ongoing planning efforts to protect shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key global chokepoint handling roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, has effectively been blockaded since the Feb. 28 strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel. Tehran has since retaliated with attacks across the Gulf, with 23 commercial vessels, including 10 tankers, have reported incidents.
According to the International Maritime Organization, approximately 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded on around 3,200 vessels west of the strait.
The six countries called on Iran to halt threats, mining operations, and drone and missile attacks, warning that disruptions to shipping could have global consequences.
Rome, Berlin, and Paris emphasized that any mission would not be immediate or combat-focused. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said there would be “no entry into Hormuz without a truce” and called for a UN-backed framework. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said any role for Berlin would depend on a ceasefire and parliamentary approval.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris is exploring a possible United Nations mandate for future operations, while a British defense official noted the current threat level makes near-term deployment of warships unlikely, though the UK has sent additional planners to support contingency efforts.
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