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By Peter Aitken and Dan Gooding
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France and other European allies are in discussions with Iran to secure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as the global oil supply crisis continues, the Financial Times reports, citing three officials briefed on the discussions.
Two of the officials named France as a party to these talks, and one said that Italy was also attempting to speak with Tehran about the issue.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Newsweek in response to a request for comment: “President Trump is fully prepared to provide U.S. Navy escorts through the Strait of Hormuz if he deems it necessary. Our military has destroyed well over 30 inactive mine laying boats with more to come.”
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Why It Matters
Oil prices have been volatile since the war with Iran began, with cargo traffic effectively halted through the narrow maritime pathway that carries a fifth of the world's oil. Producers have cut production as a result, and prices have steadily risen. Iran is suspected of pushing prices up to try to force U.S. President Donald Trump to end the conflict, which European allies have largely avoided involvement with so far.
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What To Know
Iran has made allowances for certain countries not involved in the joint U.S.-Israel operations, such as India, according to Reuters, which reported on Thursday that the foreign ministers of India and Iran had three conversations in recent days that focused on "issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India's energy security."
Iran is also in talks with Bangladesh to allow ships under its flag to transit the strait, establishing an early-notification system ahead of arrival, local media reported earlier this week.
A Liberia-flagged tanker carrying Saudi crude oil also transited the strait this week, demonstrating Iran's willingness to work with neutral parties.
Despite hesitancy to get involved in the conflict, France, Italy, and other European nations' concerns over oil prices are likely a big factor in their seeking out negotiations, too, but there is no guarantee that Iran will be willing, given their stronger ties to the U.S.
The International Energy Agency said Wednesday that its members would release a record 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves to ease market pressure. Some economists warned that it would do little to reassure markets.
Trump said earlier this week he would take action to address the oil supply issue, but on Friday said the U.S. was holding off on escorting ships through the Strait.
What People Are Saying
International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol, in a press release Wednesday: “The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA Member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size. Oil markets are global so the response to major disruptions needs to be global too. Energy security is the founding mandate of the IEA, and I am pleased that IEA Members are showing strong solidarity in taking decisive action together.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking Friday: “As the world is seeing, they are exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz, something we’re dealing with. We have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it. We’re on plan to defeat, destroy, disable all of their meaningful military capabilities at a pace the world has never seen before.”
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on March 12: "The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money. BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stoping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World. I won’t ever let that happen!"
Update 3/13/26, 3:12 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/13/26, 11:42 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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