France and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement with Oman to work together on restoring safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a joint statement issued by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday.
The leaders described the Strait of Hormuz as “a vital artery for the global economy” and said safe passage for ships of all nations was a matter of global concern.
Macron and Starmer said the Sultanate of Oman had agreed to work with Britain and France to ensure that Oman’s sovereign territorial waters remain safe for navigation.
The statement said the three sides would coordinate efforts to support freedom of navigation and help reassure commercial shipping using the strategic waterway.
Multinational mission on the table
Britain and France also said they were ready to deploy the wider Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional stability, respect for the sovereignty of all states, and close cooperation with partners to uphold global security, freedom of navigation, international law and regional stability in the Middle East.
Starmer meets Omani sultan
The joint statement followed talks on Thursday between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik at 10 Downing Street.
According to Starmer’s office, the two leaders discussed efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the importance of reassuring the shipping industry about safe transit through the waterway.
Downing Street said Starmer recognised that Oman’s support was vital, and both leaders agreed to continue working closely on the issue.
Oman praised for US-Iran mediation
Starmer also thanked Oman for its mediation efforts that contributed to the recently signed US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, which helped end months of conflict.
He reaffirmed solidarity with Oman and praised Muscat’s role as a key diplomatic link between Washington and Tehran.
The Oman News Agency said Sultan Haitham and Starmer exchanged views on regional developments and discussed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation while supporting ongoing negotiations.
According to the Oman News Agency, the two leaders agreed on the importance of reaching a lasting agreement on outstanding issues, foremost among them the Iranian nuclear file.
The agency said such an agreement should guarantee regional stability and promote peaceful coexistence and cooperation among neighbouring countries.
Hormuz traffic resumes after blockade
The Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of globally traded oil passes, was blockaded at the height of the war between Iran, the United States and Israel, pushing up global fuel prices.
The waterway has gradually resumed normal commercial traffic after reopening as part of the fragile ceasefire between Tehran and the Trump administration.
However, international efforts are continuing to establish long-term arrangements to guarantee unrestricted navigation and prevent future threats to the route.
Sultan Haitham has visited Paris and London in recent days as part of a diplomatic push to secure the Strait of Hormuz against future disruptions.
The discussions also reflect London’s wider strategy of strengthening political, economic and security partnerships with Gulf allies as geopolitical competition intensifies across the Middle East.
For Oman, the meetings reinforced its position as a central diplomatic broker in regional affairs, balancing close ties with Western governments while maintaining communication channels with Iran.
Omani officials have not yet commented on the reported agreement.
