ISTANBUL

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reaffirmed plans to work with other nations on a “peaceful operation” to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions in the Middle East.

“We want to reopen the Hormuz Strait,” Macron told students at Yonsei University during a visit to South Korea.

He said France is working with other nations to plan a peaceful mission to escort tankers and carriers through the strategic waterway.

Macron added the operation would rely on a “deconfliction mechanism with Iran” once a ceasefire or a more stable situation is established.

He said the goal is to secure a ceasefire and comprehensive negotiations "to make sure that the international community have a full view and a relevant monitoring on nuclear activities, ballistic activities and on the regional proxies used by Iran."

The Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil supplies transit, has been disrupted since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran, sending energy prices soaring.

US President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals on Washington’s plans for the waterway but has called on other countries, including France, to help protect the key transit route.