France and the United Kingdom said they stand ready to lead a multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation and trade through the Strait of Hormuz, but only to be deployed once a peace agreement is in place. Delegations met in Paris on Friday, yet the consensus among non‑belligerent states was cautious.
A temporary ceasefire has paused fighting between Iran and a US‑Israeli coalition until April 22. A separate 10‑day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the base of Iran‑backed Hezbollah, also came into effect this week. On Friday both Iran and the US said the Strait of Hormuz was “open” to commercial shipping, although the US affirmed its blockade of Iranian ports would remain until a peace deal with Tehran. Iran reversed its decision on Saturday, citing the US blockade; several merchant vessels reported coming under gunfire as they attempted to transit.
Maritime traffic had effectively halted after the war began on February 28, with Iranian threats to attack merchant ships. About 20% of the world’s oil and gas normally passes through the strait, and the stoppage has pushed up insurance costs and disrupted global trade.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ceasefires and Iran’s initial statement as “steps in the right direction,” but urged prudence after Iran reimposed restrictions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said any opening must be “both lasting and a workable proposal.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni joined Macron and Starmer, alongside representatives from roughly 50 countries and international organizations.
International observers and maritime experts warned that announcements of an opening do not equal safety for transit. Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at shipping association BIMCO, said it would be wrong to assume the strait is safe. Ian Ralby, head of NGO Auxilium Worldwide, told DW the coalition was right to be restrained: the war must end completely and risks of accidental escalation or friendly fire remain high.
Concerns about mines further complicated the picture. Michelle Wiese Bockmann, senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward, said Iran’s claim to be laying mines discouraged ships from resuming transit; she noted some 832 tanker vessels and cargo ships are currently blocked in the area. That threat has kept traffic low and insurance premiums high.
Non‑belligerent countries have offered to escort ships and assist with mine clearance. Merz said Germany could provide mine‑clearance vessels if a “sound legal basis” is established. Retired French general Dominique Trinquand argued Europe has strong capacity for these tasks and could supply tripartite mine‑clearance vessels under French, Dutch and Belgian control, with France likely contributing the largest number of escort ships.
Some observers urged using this capability to reassure the United States and shore up alliance cohesion after criticism from former US President Donald Trump that European countries had not joined the US in the Iran conflict. Jean‑Paul Palomeros, former NATO commander, said demonstrating European support would help preserve NATO unity and readiness for future contingencies, including potential threats to Baltic states.
Leaders referenced Operation Aspides, the EU mission protecting shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, as an example of Europe stepping up to secure maritime routes. Geopolitical analyst Rym Momtaz said pressure on Europe to act will grow as the ceasefire holds, asking whether coalition members will begin escorting ships, have identified a safe corridor, and are coordinating with insurers and shipping companies.
Military chiefs from the non‑warring states will meet next week at the UK’s Joint Forces Command in Northwood for further discussions on possible roles in the region.
This article was originally published on April 17, 2026, and updated on April 18 after Iran reversed its decision to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Edited by: M. Kuebler
