France presses on with Hormuz ideas, no secret Iran talks, sources say

France is pushing on with efforts to put together a coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz once the security situation stabilises, two French officials said on Friday, after a report suggested Paris was negotiating safe passage for its ships.

European states have been largely sidelined as the US-Israeli war on Iran has ‌escalated, with Iran carrying out strikes against Israel, US bases and Gulf states.

But with shipping lanes affected and the conflict pushing up oil prices...