France’s Macron urges Iran, US to de-escalate amid Hormuz tensions

GDANSK, Poland: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for the United States and Iran to de-escalate amid increased tensions over the weekend over the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our position remains the same. We need ‌to settle ‌things through diplomacy. ‌Everyone must ⁠calm down,” Macron ⁠said during a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“It is likely that, following the American decision to maintain a targeted blockade on Hormuz … the Iranian authorities changed their initial position … this is a mistake on both sides,” Macron told journalists.
The United States has maintained its blockade ⁠of Iranian ports, while Iran ‌lifted ‌and then reimposed its ‌own blockade on the Strait ‌of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied gas supply ‌usually passes.
Macron also said that France was ⁠not ⁠specifically targeted in the strait after Iran fired shots on ships on Saturday, including a container ship belonging to the CMA CGM. CMA CGM had described them as “warning shots” and said at the time the crew was safe.
– with AFP