A French ship became the first western vessel allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday after Emmanuel Macron criticised Donald Trump.
The container ship is the only vessel owned by a major western shipping line to have made safe passage since the Iran war erupted five weeks ago.
It was unclear last night why it was permitted given Tehran has warned the waterway remains closed to ‘enemies’.
France‘s Foreign Ministry declined to comment, but three more vessels from Oman firms were also waved through as was one from Japan.
The ship belonged to French group CMA CGM which is owned by Franco-Lebanese billionaire Rodolphe Saade who is close to Mr Macron.
It came just a day after the French President told Donald Trump he needs to get ‘serious’ about opening up the Strait and told him: ‘Perhaps you shouldn’t talk every day.’
But the US leader took little notice, and on Friday reverted to boasting that he could force open the vital shipping lane alone – having called on Europe to do it for him just 24 hours earlier.
Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: ‘With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A ‘GUSHER’ FOR THE WORLD???’
The UN Security Council had been due to debate a resolution drafted by Bahrain with the support of Arab nations in the Gulf yesterday to authorise military action to reopen the Strait.
The passage of the ship came just a day after the French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) told his US counterpart Donald Trump he needed to get ‘serious’ about opening up the Strait and told him: ‘Perhaps you shouldn’t talk every day’
Pictured: The French owned CMA CGM container ship which is the only vessel owned by a major western shipping line to have made safe passage since the Iran war erupted five weeks ago
However it was pulled following reports that France, China and Russia had effectively stymied the motion saying they opposed any language authorising force.
All three countries have veto powers while there were also divisions from 10 further countries without veto power, diplomats told the New York Times.
No explanation was given and the UN said it would inform press of the new date ‘as soon as it is officially determined’.
With Iran’s chokehold over the vital shipping lane through which a fifth of global oil passes driving a global economic meltdown, world leaders are desperately seeking a solution.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday offered assistance in reopening the Strait using his experience breaking Russia’s siege.
He suggested it would require drone interceptors, military convoys and electronic warfare and told allies: ‘We stand ready to help with this.’
