Macron dismisses Trump’s call for western nations to reopen Hormuz by force

{"text":[[{"start":10.24,"text":"Emmanuel Macron on Thursday dismissed Donald Trump’s suggestion that western countries should use force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as “unrealistic”, as the UK hosted talks with 41 nations about how to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strategic waterway. "}],[{"start":30.54,"text":"The French president said restoring shipping in the strait was only possible “in co-ordination with Iran” following a ceasefire in hostilities with the US and Israel."}],[{"start":42.92,"text":"A military operation to re-establish freedom of navigation “would take forever, and would expose all those who go through the strait to risks from the Revolutionary Guards but also ballistic missiles”, Macron told reporters during a trip to South Korea."}],[{"start":59.56,"text":"Iran has in effect closed the strait, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil normally passes, by launching attacks on shipping after the US and Israel launched their war against the Islamic republic on February 28."}],[{"start":77.45,"text":"Macron was speaking ahead of UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper convening a virtual meeting of 41 nations on Thursday to discuss co-ordinating diplomatic and economic pressure on Tehran to reopen the strait."}],[{"start":92.24000000000001,"text":"She led condemnation of Iran for seeking to “hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage”."}],[{"start":100.63000000000001,"text":"The UK-led video call was arranged at short notice in response to the US president stepping up calls for other nations to take responsibility for reopening the strait, which is also a key shipping route for refined petroleum, liquefied natural gas and products such as fertiliser."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":119.86000000000001,"text":"On Thursday Trump said Nato nations “gotta get guts” and told Politico they should “go in and just send your ships” to the strait. Earlier this week he urged countries including Britain to “go get their own oil” if they were facing potential shortages due to the crisis in the waterway."}],[{"start":138.69,"text":"But Iran said on Thursday it was drafting a protocol with Oman to manage the passage of ships through the strait."}],[{"start":146.63,"text":"Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, said in comments reported by state media that new rules for the waterway would be needed after the war, adding Tehran would “soon” determine the level of tolls charged to transit the strait."}],[{"start":163.82,"text":"The meeting hosted by the UK included France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the EU and the International Maritime Organization. The US did not participate. "}],[{"start":182.85999999999999,"text":"It established four strands of possible collective action, according to the UK Foreign Office. These included heaping fresh diplomatic pressure on Iran, including through the UN, to “comprehensively reject tolls being imposed on vessels seeking to pass through”, as well as examining new economic measures on Tehran, including sanctions, it added."}],[{"start":206.05999999999997,"text":"In addition, the countries discussed work to release ships and sailors trapped in the strait, as well as arrangements to support greater market confidence."}],[{"start":215.43999999999997,"text":"However, the meeting did not lead to any concrete outcomes beyond agreement that talks would continue. "}],[{"start":223.53999999999996,"text":"Britain takes a clear position that freedom of navigation must be established without caveats in the Strait of Hormuz, according to UK officials."}],[{"start":233.43999999999997,"text":"“Partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea,” the UK Foreign Office said."}],[{"start":247.22999999999996,"text":"However, Rome’s foreign ministry said after the meeting that the Italian foreign minister had joined with Dutch and UAE representatives to back proposals to “work with the UN to establish a ‘humanitarian corridor’ as soon as possible, primarily for fertilisers and other supplies needed to prevent a new food crisis, particularly in African nations”. "}],[{"start":272.35999999999996,"text":"Cooper said military planners from participating nations will look next week at “how we marshal our collective defensive military capabilities, including looking at issues such as demining or reassurance once the conflict eases”."}],[{"start":288.65999999999997,"text":"The UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in London, which coordinates overseas military operations, will host the meeting to discuss viable options to make the strait “accessible and safe for navigation”, the UK Ministry of Defence said. "}],[{"start":305.95,"text":"France, the Netherlands and Gulf states are among nations that have held talks over what naval assets they would be willing to provide to any potential ‘coalition of the willing’ that would aim to keep the strait open to shipping after the war has ended, four officials briefed on the discussions said earlier this week."}],[{"start":326.03999999999996,"text":"Once a ceasefire is secured and after the strait is reopened, Britain is among several nations that want to restore a political track of negotiations about Iran’s nuclear programme, which was taking place before the war erupted. "}],[{"start":341.96999999999997,"text":"Additional reporting by Giuliana Ricozzi"}],[{"start":356.54999999999995,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1775178965_1352.mp3"}