French President Emmanuel Macron, from his visit to Cyprus the day before, announced that France and its allies are preparing for a purely defensive and support mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where dozens of ships have remained blocked since the start of the war in Iran.
During a day-long trip to the eastern Mediterranean island, the EU member state closest to the Middle East, he said the mission would begin "as soon as possible after the most intense phase of the conflict is over."
Greece's maritime transport minister has described the situation in the strait as "alarming", saying that many tankers have been stranded in the key waterway since US and Israeli air strikes against Iran began. About a fifth of the world's oil supplies pass through the strait every day.
"It is essential for international trade, but also for the flow of gas and oil, which must be able to leave this region again," Macron told reporters.
The French leader also pledged that the European Union will do everything possible to support Cyprus, where several EU countries have rushed to deploy ships and fighter jets after the drone attack against a British base on the island.
