What to know about the demining and escort mission that U.S. allies want for the Strait of Hormuz

By — John Leicester, Associated Press John Leicester, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-to-know-about-the-demining-and-escort-mission-that-u-s-allies-want-for-the-strait-of-hormuz Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter What to know about the demining and escort mission that U.S. allies want for the Strait of Hormuz World Jun 17, 2026 4:28 PM EDT EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — The naval mission for the Strait of Hormuz that U.S. allies are proposing as a follow-up to a deal to end the Iran war would aim to reassure crews and shipping insurers that vessels can safely navigate the narrow waterway again, by removing any explosive mines and potentially providing military escorts. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. France and Britain have been working on the plans for months. French President Emmanuel Macron floated the idea back in March when the war was raging, saying warships could escort tankers and container ships through the maritime chokepoint when the conflict dies down. U.S. President Donald Trump told Macron on Monday at the Group of Seven summit that he doesn't see a need for "much help" because the strait is "going to be open" thanks to the tentative deal with Iran. READ MORE: What's in the agreement to end the U.S. war in Iran, according to a U.S. official "But I don't think it's a bad idea to have a ship or two up here from a few countries. You'd be a great country to do it," Trump told the French leader. Here's a closer look at the envisioned mission that U.S. allies are pitching to speed the return of oil and gas supplies: U.S. allies float it as a next step to the Iran deal In a statement welcoming the framework deal that would extend the U.S.-Iran tentative ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. allies said they "are committed to playing our part" to urgently reopen the waterway "with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation." WATCH: Maritime security expert weighs U.S.-Iran deal's impact on global shipping The statement was issued by France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy, later joined by Canada — all members, with the United States, of the G7 club of nations. They proposed "a strictly defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations." How they say it could work France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, is already in the region. Macron dispatched it first to the eastern Mediterranean in early March and then onward through the Suez Canal to the Arabian Sea. Other nations deployed in the region that could quickly help include the Netherlands, Italy and the U.K., Macron said. WATCH: Questions linger over U.S.-Iran deal as details remain murky The French leader told Trump that French fighter aircraft could take part in observat