Macron: France , Oman to Cooperate on Clearing Mines from Hormuz

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that France and Oman will work together to ease tensions in the Middle East and cooperate with partners to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz.

Writing on X after meeting Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at the Élysée Palace, Macron said: “We have decided to cooperate, in coordination with our partners, to remove mines from the strait in order to secure maritime routes and guarantee unconditional freedom of passage through Hormuz.”

Earlier in the day, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al‑Busaidi dismissed any “confusion” over the issue of transit fees, stressing that Oman does not support imposing charges on vessels, in line with international law and the principle of free navigation. 

Speaking to Radio Monte Carlo International, Al‑Busaidi underscored the need to keep navigation in Hormuz “safe, sound, and free for all.”

He added that responsibility for ensuring the strait and internationally recognized shipping lanes are free of mines lies primarily with Iran, as outlined in a memorandum of understanding. Oman, he said, remains open to contributing to regional and international efforts “whenever requested.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed on X that Iran and Oman held the first meeting of their joint committee on Hormuz in Muscat, exchanging views on sovereignty rights and future management of the strait under the temporary agreement signed by Tehran and Washington earlier this month.

Shipping data from analytics firm Kpler showed maritime traffic through Hormuz remains well below pre‑war levels, with 124 cargo and energy vessels crossing since Thursday. 

CNN reported that this four‑day figure roughly equals the daily average before the conflict, when more than 100 ships transited the strait each day.