Emmanuel Macron announced that France and Oman are cooperating to reduce tensions in the Middle East and to participate in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

In response, Gharibabadi warned France not to “make the situation more complicated” and stressed that, under the Islamabad memorandum, mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz are to be carried out only by Iran.

These remarks came as the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes, and any escalation there could affect maritime security and energy markets.