French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that he had held discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on ongoing Iran ceasefire talks, with both leaders agreeing to maintain close coordination on the issue, according to Reuters.
“I reiterated my support for the ceasefire, which must be fully respected and extended without delay to Lebanon. We discussed the need to restore fully free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible,” Macron wrote on X.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, targeting its leadership and triggering a new conflict in the Middle East.
Iran has been responding with a retaliatory counterattack in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi as a retaliatory move, while launching barrages of missiles and drones toward Israel.
The conflict has spread across the Middle East, leaving thousands dead, triggering unprecedented disruptions to energy supplies especially after the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
As a critical waterway, the Strait of Hormuz handles approximately a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil and roughly one‑fifth of all liquefied natural gas flows.
Due to the escalating tensions, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that the waterway was unsafe. Therefore, the authorities halted ship movements.
Macron noted that he also agreed with the Saudi Crown Prince to remain in close contact to help advance de-escalation efforts, safeguard freedom of navigation, and support the conclusion of an agreement that ensures lasting peace and security in the region.
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