France Denies Sending Warship to Strait of Hormuz Amid US-Iran Tensions

France has rejected a request from U.S. President Donald Trump to send a warship to the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

The French Foreign Ministry stated that Paris would not deploy additional military forces to the strategic maritime corridor. It said the French aircraft carrier strike group would remain in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with its mission described as "defensive and protective" to ensure regional stability rather than escalate the conflict.

French authorities criticized what they called alarmist rhetoric surrounding the situation and urged political leaders to avoid spreading panic as tensions rise in the Middle East.

Trump had called on multiple countries to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, saying the waterway would soon be "open, secure and free." The narrow strait is a critical route for nearly a fifth of the world's oil supplies.

Tensions have intensified with exchanges of threats, cyber operations, missile alerts, military deployments and heightened naval activity across the Persian Gulf involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Analysts warn that escalation near the strait could disrupt global energy supplies.

France's decision underscores European efforts to balance diplomatic engagement with security concerns in the Gulf, favoring de-escalation amid fears of a broader regional war.