France, Italy See Iran Deal on Strait of Hormuz

France and Italy have opened talks with Iran seeking to negotiate a deal guaranteeing safe passage for their commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a move aimed at restarting critical energy shipments from the Gulf region.

The discussions, first disclosed in a Financial Times report citing officials briefed on the efforts, come as shipping through the narrow waterway – which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows – has slowed to a near standstill.

As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, the ongoing Middle East war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran has prompted Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on tankers and a vow by Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, to keep the strait closed, triggering widespread disruptions and sending shockwaves through global energy markets.

Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel – up from around $60 earlier this year – while European natural gas prices have climbed by about 75 per cent, fuelling fears of prolonged economic pain for consumers and industries worldwide.

European capitals are increasingly anxious about potential interruptions to energy supplies, with the initiative by Paris and Rome reflecting urgent efforts to protect their commercial interests without further escalating the conflict. France has maintained direct and indirect channels with Tehran, including recent conversations between President Emmanuel Macron and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which Macron stressed the need for Tehran to guarantee freedom of navigation.

Italy, for its part, has faced scrutiny after the reports surfaced. An Italian foreign ministry source denied any “under-the-table negotiations” aimed at securing special advantages for Italian ships, insisting contacts are limited to pushing for broader de-escalation. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called for the European Union to speak with “a single, united voice,” urging an official request for safe passage for vessels from non-warring nations.

The diplomatic push has, however, exposed divisions within Europe. Some member states remain sceptical of engaging Tehran directly, with one official noting that “EU states have very different views on this, which is making it more complicated.”

At the same time, European governments are weighing military options as a backup. France is actively consulting with European, Asian and Gulf Arab partners – including India – on forming a coalition that could eventually deploy warships to escort tankers once the situation stabilises. Macron has described the planned mission as “purely defensive” and “purely escort,” with Paris already contributing to the EU’s Aspides naval operation in the Red Sea and preparing additional assets, including frigates and potentially an aircraft carrier group.

No European navy is currently ready to conduct escorts through the Hormuz strait while attack risks remain high, officials stressed, but the groundwork for such operations is being laid quietly.

Iran has shown limited flexibility so far, allowing a Turkish-owned bulk carrier to transit on Friday and permitting passage for some neutral-flagged vessels from countries like India. However, there is no guarantee Tehran will agree to broader concessions, as its strategy appears focused on using the strait’s closure to pressure Washington into ending the conflict.

This latest development underscores the high stakes for global oil markets, with analysts warning that prolonged disruptions could push crude prices even higher and ripple across Africa, including Nigeria, where rising international benchmarks often translate to higher fuel costs at home despite the country’s status as a major oil producer.