UK: PM-'Still Work To Be Done To Reopen Hormuz Shipping'

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Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, indicates that any de-escalation in the Middle East is unlikely to be achieved by countries viewed as close to the US or Israel, referring to European nations. Larijani posts on X: "It is unlikely that any security will be achieved in the Strait of Hormuz amid the fires of the war ignited by the United States and Israel in the region, especially if that is by the design of parties that were not far removed from supporting this war and contributing to its fanning." 

• Larijani's comments come in response to French President Emmanuel Macron's statement that French naval vessels would provide security escorts through the Strait of Hormuz for container ships and tankers. Speaking in Cyprus, Macron said he wanted the "purely defensive" operation to begin as soon as possible, adding that this can only happen when the fighting in the Middle East has died down.
• Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa held a videoconference with leaders from the GCC states, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Armenia, Egypt and Syria. In a joint statement, the two EU leaders said they "expressed their openness to further tailor and enhance" operations Aspides and Atalanta, joint European naval operations initially intended to protect shipping in the region from Houthi rebels in Yemen, in order to better respond to the situation.