A container ship belonging to the French shipping group CMA CGM has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, data from the tracking system MarineTraffic show. This is the first French ship to pass through the key sea corridor since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, reports "Reuters".
We are talking about the Maltese-flagged Kribi, which passed through the strait on April 2 and is currently moving along the coast of Oman. It is unclear under what conditions the ship was granted permission to pass, and neither CMA CGM nor the administration of French President Emmanuel Macron have made any official comment.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has been effectively closed since the escalation of the conflict. The passage of the French ship is seen as a signal that Tehran may not consider France a hostile party in the current situation.
Ship traffic data shows that before entering Iranian territorial waters, the ship changed its destination in the AIS system to "Owner France", possibly in order to emphasize its nationality - a practice also used by other countries to demonstrate neutrality in conflict zones.
The passage coincides with a statement by Macron that the opening of the strait can only be achieved through diplomatic efforts, not through a military operation. Paris is working with allies to build a coalition to ensure freedom of navigation after tensions de-escalate.