France: Iran’s closure of Strait of Hormuz leaves 60 French ships stuck

Shafaq News- Paris

Sixty French vessels remain
stranded in Middle Eastern waters after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz, France’s Transport Minister Philippe
Tabarot revealed on Friday.

“There are around ​fifty ships
–52 to be precise– in ⁠the Persian Gulf and eight in the Red Sea,” Tabarot told
French broadcaster CNews/Europe 1, adding that French authorities maintain
continuous contact with the crews and confirming the presence of French sailors
on several vessels.

Paris is working to rally
international backing for a coalition aimed at safeguarding maritime navigation
in the region, according to Reuters.

The Strait of Hormuz carries
roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it has “full control” over the chokepoint, while ship-tracking
services showed dozens of tankers idling on both sides. US President Donald
Trump said the US Navy could escort oil tankers if needed.