Brussels: French President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out joining "any use of force" to open the Strait of Hormuz. "We will not participate in any use of force to open the strait in the context of the ongoing war and bombings," Macron told reporters during a news briefing late Thursday after EU leaders gathered in Brussels.

According to Anadolu Agency, Macron's remarks came after the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan signaled their readiness in a joint statement to support efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Macron reiterated that once the situation is calmer, France is prepared, along with other nations, to take responsibility for a ship-escort system in the strait as part of a mission that is not intended to be a use-of-force operation, necessitating coordination and deconfliction with Iran.

Reaffirming France's defensive stance, Macron called for an end to attacks on Eid al-Fitr. He expressed hope for a cessation of hostilities to allow for a negotiated and sustainable solution, urging the involved parties to accept a truce in the imminent hours.

Regional tensions have escalated in the Middle East following a joint offensive by Israel and the US on Iran on February 28, resulting in over 1,300 casualties, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks across the region and has effectively restricted most ships from accessing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transit route handling approximately 20 million barrels per day and about 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade.