Hormuz Mine Clearance Dispute
Iran Rejects French Offer, Insisting Sole Responsibility for Hormuz Mine Clearance
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Key Points
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Iran publicly reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz mine clearance will be carried out exclusively by Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with the United States, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stating, "we fundamentally do not permit any such thing" regarding external participation.
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French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and Oman are working together to clear mines from the Strait with partners to secure sea lanes and guarantee free, unconditional passage, after his meeting with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at the Elysee Palace.
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Iran warned France not to provoke or complicate the situation, describing the demining issue as highly sensitive and complex and urging Paris to avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
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In parallel, de-escalation channels between Iran and the United States have been established to keep the interim peace deal on track after weekend exchanges of strikes, indicating ongoing diplomatic efforts alongside the demining dispute.
Iran declared on June 28 that it alone will clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz — and warned France to stay out. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the operation is exclusively Iran's under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with the United States. "We fundamentally do not permit any such thing," he said, referring to outside involvement, according to Times of Israel.
The warning came two days after French President Emmanuel Macron said France and Oman are working with partners to clear the mines and secure "free, unconditional passage" through the strait. About 21 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz every day — roughly 21% of global petroleum supply. Every day the mines sit there, shipping insurance costs stay 40% above normal levels, according to Daily Sabah.
Macron Steps In, Iran Pushes Back Hard
On June 26, Macron hosted Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The next day, Macron announced that France and Oman were coordinating with international partners to begin demining immediately. He framed it as a global safety issue — not a regional dispute. Iran saw it very differently, according to Middle East Eye.
Tehran issued a formal warning to Paris on June 29. Iran called the demining issue "highly sensitive and complex." It urged France not to provoke or complicate the situation. Iranian state media framed Macron's move as outside interference — a challenge to Iran's hard-won role under the Islamabad MoU, according to WDEF News.
The Islamabad MoU: What Iran Says It Means
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was signed earlier in 2026. It set up a de-escalation roadmap between the U.S. and Iran. A key part of the deal — as Tehran reads it — gives Iran primary control over security in the Strait of Hormuz. In return, Iran agreed to reduce regional hostilities, according to Times of Israel.
Iran argues that if foreign navies demine the strait, they could gather intelligence on who placed the mines and how. That could blow up the peace deal. Analysts note that controlling the demining means controlling the evidence. It is a technical operation with very high political stakes, according to CNN.
De-escalation Channels Open After Weekend Strikes
The mine crisis did not appear out of nowhere. On June 20 and 21, a series of strikes between Iranian-backed groups and U.S. forces threatened to collapse the interim peace deal. Mines were discovered in the Strait on June 22. Within a day, de-escalation channels between Washington and Tehran were activated, according to Middle East Eye.
Three separate channels are now active — diplomatic, military-to-military via Switzerland, and intelligence-sharing through Muscat. The U.S. has stayed quiet on Macron's proposal. Washington's focus is keeping the peace deal alive, not picking a fight with France or Iran over who holds the minesweeper, according to Daily Sabah.
What Happens If France and Iran Face Off in the Strait
The economic risk is enormous. A full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would cost the global economy an estimated $1.2 billion per day. Shipping war-risk premiums for large oil tankers have already spiked 40% since mines were found on June 22. Consumers could feel the impact at fuel pumps within 72 hours of any incident, according to CNN.
The bigger danger is a miscalculation. If French and Iranian naval vessels arrive at the same minefield, a small incident could force the U.S. to choose between its European ally and the fragile Iran peace deal. Oman, which brokered much of the diplomacy, now faces pressure from both sides as it tries to keep everyone at the table, according to WDEF News.
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