Iran Rejects French Plan for Joint Mine Clearance in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has firmly rejected a proposal, supported by France, for collaborative mine clearance operations in the vital Strait of Hormuz. Tehran insists that mine clearance in the strategic waterway will be conducted "entirely by Iran," citing a prior memorandum of understanding.

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We advise France not to complicate the situation with its provocations.

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, stated that any parallel arrangements or foreign involvement in mine clearance operations are unacceptable. He advised France against complicating the situation with "provocations," emphasizing that the current conditions in the strait are "sensitive and complex."

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The current conditions in the strait are sensitive and complex.

The Iranian stance comes after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for France and Oman to cooperate on mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz. Macron stated the initiative aimed to secure maritime routes and ensure "free and unimpeded" passage. This announcement followed bilateral talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

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France and Oman have decided to cooperate, coordinating with partners, in an effort to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has consistently maintained that the management of navigation, mine clearance, and temporary maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz fall under its jurisdiction as a coastal state. This position is codified in a memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington on June 18, which aims to restore maritime transit and establish temporary navigation mechanisms in the crucial waterway. The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of regional tensions, particularly since the escalation of conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran earlier this year.

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The clearance aims to secure maritime routes and ensure free and unimpeded passage through the strait.