CMA CGM Kribi Becomes First Western Ship To Transit Hormuz Strait Since US-Iran War Began

The Maltese-flagged container ship, CMA CGM Kribi, became the first vessel from Western Europe to cross the Strait of Hormuz after it was closed by Iran.

The French-owned ship operated by CMA CGM SA sailed from waters off Dubai towards Iran and passed through the channel between the Qeshm and Larak islands, while broadcasting its location.

This development came after French President Emmanuel Macron took a stand against the U.S. proposal of using force to seize control of Hormuz, an idea that Macron called impractical, dangerous and unrealistic.

He added that any such move would expose the West and its forces to significant risks of being attacked by Iran’s ballistic missiles.

After this, Trump mocked Macron over France’s refusal to be a part of the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, and Macron also hit back by saying that the U.S. President “talks too much” and that such remarks were “neither elegant nor befitting the office”.

Iran has clearly stated that the restrictions on ship crossings in Hormuz apply to the U.S. and its allies, while it has allowed other ships from friendly nations to pass through, subject to pre-approved routes and prior approvals.

France and some other Western countries have begun diplomatic efforts to stabilise the situation, though no breakthroughs have been achieved.