Poor Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier Is Within Range of the Iranian Armed Forces

TEHRAN (Defapress) - The French Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday, May 6, that the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which carries about 20 Rafale fighter jets and is accompanied by several warships, will be deployed in the Persian Gulf region. In this regard, the French President is trying to activate the coalition he formed with the UK in April to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Emmanuel Macron, who has been humiliated many times by the US President, like other European leaders, has now put the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier card on the table. The ship, which is considered the most important symbol of French naval power, has set off for the Persian Gulf with about 20 Rafale fighter jets and several escort frigates.

The French Defense Ministry announced in a statement that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its accompanying ships passed through the Suez Canal on Wednesday, May 6, and are heading south to the Red Sea.

This action is actually an attempt to send a message that the coalition formed between London and Paris in April is ready to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a route whose reopening, according to the French government, should not be tied to negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

One of Emmanuel Macron’s advisers emphasized in an interview with AFP: “We are sending the message that we are not only ready to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but also can do so.”

While the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a global jump in fuel prices, the Elysee Palace claims that it now has a fully operational plan; A plan that, according to French officials, is entirely defensive in nature.

France describes the plan as “practical and realistic,” a plan that is to be implemented “at a safe distance from the parties involved.” This position comes at a time when Donald Trump, after a decisive reaction from the Iranian armed forces, withdrew from the implementation of the so-called “Project Freedom” plan, a plan under which the US military was to take over the escort of commercial ships.

In this regard, the French government spokesman announced that Paris has proposed examining the issue of the Strait of Hormuz separately and independently of other aspects of the conflict between the US and Iran, because it involves the “common interests” of all parties.

France has also announced its conditions for launching the multinational mission. According to the Elysee Palace, France has proposed to Iran that, in exchange for lifting the US naval blockade, Iran agree to enter into negotiations with the US side over the Strait of Hormuz.

The French President noted in this regard: "The message we are giving to the Americans is that they must lift the naval blockade and, in return, accept Iran's readiness to negotiate on the main issues."

Emmanuel Macron raised this plan in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezzekian and spoke of the "effectiveness" of the joint multinational mission between France and the UK.

He also condemned in a speech the attacks on the UAE's civilian infrastructure and several ships in recent days.

In contrast, Masoud Pezzekian emphasized that any negotiations on the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz require the lifting of the naval blockade imposed by the United States, and otherwise, no opening in the Strait of Hormuz is conceivable.