52 French ships stranded in the Gulf amid Iran conflict

PARIS - Around 50 French ships are currently blocked in the Persian Gulf and another eight in  the Red Sea, France's Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on Friday, as Paris seeks support to build a coalition of countries to secure shipping traffic in the region.

"There are around fifty ships - 52 to be precise - in the Persian Gulf and eight in the Red Sea, and we are also in permanent contact with the crews, as there are French sailors aboard a number of these vessels," Tabarot told French broadcaster CNews/Europe 1. 

Laurent Martens, director general of Armateurs de France, the organization representing French shipping companies, highlighted the severe disruptions caused by Iran's threats and ongoing military actions in the region.

Martens disclosed that these ships have been advised by the French navy to seek safe shelter amid the heightened risks, as Iran has effectively blockaded the strait through missile and drone threats. 

"Those ships have been told by the French navy to get to safe shelter," Martens told the media, underscoring the precarious situation for maritime traffic in the area. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil trade handling up to 20% of the world's supply, has seen a complete halt in tanker transits due to the conflict, exacerbating fears of a global energy crisis.

Thousands of passengers, including tourists on cruise ships, are stranded in Gulf ports as airspace closures and naval blockades prevent departures. French authorities are actively working to repatriate citizens, with the foreign affairs minister confirming efforts to organize returns for thousands of French nationals. 

In a related incident, an Air France charter flight intended to evacuate French citizens from the United Arab Emirates was forced to turn back mid-flight due to nearby missile strikes, as stated by Tabarot.

The conflict, now in its second week following US and Israeli strikes that reportedly eliminated Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has drawn in European nations more deeply. France has responded by deploying military assets, including its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier redirected to the Mediterranean and additional air-defense systems to Cyprus, to protect allied interests amid Iranian drone attacks.