Macron: France and allies preparing mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and its allies are preparing a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed to commercial shipping since the war began. The announcement came as G7 finance ministers convened to announce coordinated measures in response to the energy crisis. Oil prices had fallen to $87.80 as markets responded positively to the combination of US destruction of Iranian mine-laying vessels, IEA stockpile release discussions, and Macron's mission announcement. Macron's Hormuz mission represents the most concrete Western military-diplomatic commitment to restoring oil flows since the strait closure. France chairs the G7 this year and has been the most active European power in the conflict — supplying air defense to Gulf states, calling UNSC emergency sessions, hosting the G7 energy summit, and now committing to a Hormuz reopening mission. The mission would likely involve combined naval forces to escort tankers and clear any remaining mine threat. The combination of US preemptive destruction of mine-laying vessels and a NATO-led escort mission would substantially restore Hormuz functionality.