Iran warns it will close Strait of Hormuz if US naval blockade continues

France and the United Kingdom convened a virtual summit in Paris on Friday with approximately 50 countries to plan a multinational defensive mission to secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, as the region grapples with the fallout from the war against Iran that began on February 28. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are leading international efforts to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Tehran, with Starmer accusing Iran of "holding the world economy hostage." The initiative, known as the Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative, would be strictly defensive, limited to countries not involved in the conflict, and executed only "when security conditions permit." However, the United States was not present at the meeting, with President Donald Trump criticizing NATO on social media as "useless when needed" and a "paper tiger." Iran announced it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz during a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, though the passage of approximately one-fifth of the world's oil remains threatened. Trump stated the strait is "completely open and ready for business" but insisted his naval blockade against Iran would remain until negotiations with Tehran are "100% concluded." An Iranian official warned that Iran would close the strait again if Trump maintains the blockade. Experts say the coalition's focus should be on mine-clearing and creating maritime threat alert systems rather than armed escorts for tankers, noting that "an enormous number of vessels would be needed, which nobody has." The gathering included representatives from Middle Eastern and Asian nations, with German Foreign Minister Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attending in person. Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares joined the bloc advocating for a non-military solution under a future UN mandate, with Madrid maintaining it will not participate in military operations linked to the war. France deployed a nuclear aircraft carrier and multiple frigates to the region, while the UK sent only one major warship, the destroyer HMS Dragon, sparking Trump's mockery: "You don't even have a navy." For European nations, the initiative represents an alternative to Washington's unilateral approach, with analysts suggesting countries like Canada and European allies seek to demonstrate the ability to guarantee international security independently of the United States.