Europe is questioning U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the Strait of Hormuz will quickly return to normal under a provisional agreement with Iran.
According to Bloomberg on the 16th, countries attending the Group of Seven (G7) summit agreed on the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but were skeptical that ship traffic could be fully normalized this week as President Trump promised.
At the G7 summit in Evian, France, Trump said, "Ships have already begun to depart," and "the strait will be fully open by Friday."
However, Bloomberg said the G7 is struggling to forge a common position on how to respond to Iran. Some countries see it as difficult to commit to mine-clearing operations or maritime patrol missions when even the specific terms of an agreement to reopen the strait have not yet been made public.
In particular, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said participation in the plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be possible only if military tensions ease in Lebanon, where Israeli forces recently carried out airstrikes. German government officials warn that full normalization of the strait could take weeks, not days.
The shipping industry is also taking a cautious view of the possibility of an early normalization of the Strait of Hormuz. Jakob Larsen, chief security officer (CSO) of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), an international shipowners' group, said, "Statements from the United States and Iran remain unclear and do not provide sufficient information on key issues such as timelines and safe routes." He also said, "From the shipping industry's perspective, the security situation remains unstable, and it is still risky to resume ship operations now."
The biggest variable is mine-clearing. It is not even confirmed how many mines have actually been laid in the Strait of Hormuz. European countries possess high levels of mine-clearing capability, but there are concerns that related vessels and personnel could be exposed to attacks if tensions with Iran flare again.
MIT professor Caitlin Talmadge said, "Mine-clearing operations are premised on being conducted in a fundamentally secure environment," adding, "If Iranian attacks resume, the vessels and personnel involved—especially dedicated mine countermeasures ships with limited self-defense capabilities—could be vulnerable."
Still, European countries have begun preparatory work to open the Strait of Hormuz. France and the United Kingdom are leading the drafting of plans to support the reopening of the strait once a final peace agreement is concluded, and more than 15 countries have so far expressed willingness to provide equipment and personnel, according to reports.
French President Emmanuel Macron said, "This is very important for peace and for the world," adding, "We are ready to shoulder our fair share of responsibility and to participate in the mission as members of the international community."