Nicosia, April 24 — French President Emmanuel Macron urged a swift return to stability in West Asia as he arrived at a European Union summit in Cyprus (April 23–24), warning that the spillover from the US‑Israel conflict with Iran is unsettling the global economy. “It is in everyone’s interest for stability to return as soon as possible and for the world’s economies to be reassured,” he said.
Macron criticized pressure‑driven policies toward Tehran, citing reports from Iranian state media, and argued that negotiations must be systematic and rooted in diplomacy rather than military measures or economic strangulation. “Dialogue with Iran must be carried out in a systematic manner, not through targeted blockades or similar measures,” he said.
He called for preserving ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon and for sustained diplomatic engagement on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Macron also confirmed that France is coordinating with Britain on strategic and military steps, including efforts to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, underscoring Paris’s commitment to regional stability.
On April 22, military planners from more than 30 countries met at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, north London, in a UK‑ and France‑led initiative to develop a coordinated plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The two‑day conference aimed to advance detailed military planning within a multinational framework following a proposed ceasefire agreement.
Earlier, on April 18, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged de‑escalation in West Asia and called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened without tolls or privatisation. After taking part in a virtual Leaders’ Summit on the strait co‑hosted by Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Albanese said 49 countries adopted a consistent approach focused on freedom of navigation.
A virtual Leaders’ Summit on the Strait of Hormuz, co‑hosted by Macron and Starmer, was held in Paris on April 17 to discuss measures to stabilise the key maritime corridor.
