European nations including France have begun talks with Tehran aimed at securing safe passage for their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to people familiar with the discussions. The effort is intended to restart energy shipments from the Gulf.
Traffic through the strategic waterway which handles about one‑fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows has dwindled following Iranian attacks on tankers and a pledge by the country’s new supreme leader to keep it shut.
Officials told the Financial Times that European capitals are cautiously engaging in dialogue to resume exports without widening the conflict, while shipping companies consider whether western navies might provide escorts. France is directly involved, two officials said, and one added that Italy has also attempted to reach out to Tehran.
Two officials cautioned there is no assurance the talks will advance or that Iran will agree to negotiate. Tehran is widely believed to be seeking higher energy prices to pressure US President Donald Trump to end the confrontation. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reiterated on Thursday that the strait would remain blocked.
Still, Turkey’s transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu noted that Iran permitted a Turkish‑owned bulk carrier to leave the strait on Friday, one of the few ships granted safe passage to the Arabian Sea.
European governments have tried to avoid direct involvement in the fighting, with some criticising the initial US‑Israeli strike that triggered the broader war. Yet they remain alarmed that a prolonged closure of Hormuz could drive up energy costs, worsening Europe’s economic strains. Oil has climbed to about $100 a barrel from near $60 at the start of the year, while European gas prices have surged 75 percent.
Italy, France and Greece currently have warships in the Red Sea under the EU’s Aspides mission, but officials said no European navy is willing to escort vessels through Hormuz if attacks are likely. “It has to be a permissible environment,” said the first official.
A second official, declining to specify which countries are in talks, said some European capitals oppose the outreach. “Some think we need to talk to the Iranians. But [EU states] have very different views on this, which is making it more complicated,” they explained.
UK officials said Britain is not in direct contact with Iran over Hormuz access. However, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, visiting Saudi Arabia, is discussing oil supply continuity with Gulf partners.
French President Emmanuel Macron said this week that Paris would be ready to help escort ships if hostilities ease. An Élysée spokesperson pointed to Macron’s social media post last week, in which he said he had spoken with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and emphasised that Tehran “needs to guarantee freedom of navigation to put an end to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”
An Italian foreign ministry spokesperson clarified that Rome is engaging Tehran “only for understanding when Iranians want to de‑escalate this situation” and insisted Italy is not seeking advantage. “Maybe there are phone calls,” they added. “But this is not a moment of intense negotiation.”
On Friday, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto told Corriere della Sera, “We are trying to get Europe to speak with a single, united voice . . . pushing for two key points. The first is to officially request . . . to allow ships from countries that are not at war to pass through Hormuz.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “President Trump is fully prepared to provide US 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.”
