Iran-U.S. Ceasefire: France's Charles de Gaulle Carrier Returns to Toulon
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday (July 3) that, due to the agreement reached between Iran and the United States on June 17 to end hostilities, France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will conclude its deployment in the Middle East and return to its home port of Toulon.
On Friday, Macron stated on the social platform X that, given the "positive shift" in the situation following the June 17 agreement between Iran and the U.S., the Charles de Gaulle will return to its home port of Toulon. However, France’s mine-clearing forces and escort vessels currently deployed in the region will remain, maintaining their readiness to jointly carry out missions with partner nations.
The French presidential office said the Charles de Gaulle is currently located in the Mediterranean Sea.
France’s ongoing naval presence in the region includes two multilateral cooperative mine countermeasure vessels. These ships can participate in international operations initiated by France to ensure the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron said that two frigates and one maritime patrol aircraft will work alongside the mine-clearing vessels, preparing to cooperate with partner countries to fully restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and secure maritime traffic.
Macron emphasized that France will continue closely monitoring developments in the region and will adjust its military deployments according to regional security conditions and actual needs.
This week, Macron held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman. According to a Franco-Omani joint statement released after their meeting, both countries agreed to conduct joint mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
In late February, Iran temporarily blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in response to attacks launched by the U.S. and Israel. The strait handles vital global oil shipments, and the blockade caused international oil prices to rise and triggered supply shortages in several countries.
Under mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, agreeing to cease hostilities and launch negotiations lasting 60 days—extendable—for a lasting resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869758987664457/
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