Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday ended a two-day visit to Paris with a joint call alongside French President Emmanuel Macron for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to be returned to its "normal state".
"The two sides condemned the attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and threats to the security of waterways," they said in a statement.
"They stressed the importance of restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to its normal state," the statement added, referring to "freedom of navigation, regular shipping traffic, and the absence of any direct or indirect tolls, or restrictions on passage, in accordance with international law".
Their call comes as the US unveiled an expansion of secondary sanctions against Iran in a bid to force it to stop attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said countries will have a deadline to shut down activities with Iran that have been identified by his office, or they could have key companies and entities cut off from the dollar-based financial system.
Iran has warned that more economic pressure will have consequences. Tehran closed down the Strait after a joint US-Israeli attack in late February, nearly completely shutting down traffic in the waterway through which about 20 per cent of the world's oil used to travel.
Negotiated solution
France and Saudi Arabia called on resolving issues with Iran, including its nuclear programme, through a "negotiated solution to avoid further escalation and ensure regional security."
The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has recently also joined in assaults on maritime transit in the region by attacking ships and Saudi oil infrastructure – a move condemned by Mr Macron and Prince Mohammed.
"The French side affirmed its solidarity and full support for the kKingdom of Saudi Arabia, and stressed its rejection of any attacks on the Kingdom's territory," the joint statement said.
Mr Macron and Prince Mohammed also discussed the situations regarding Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. Last month, the French President was the first EU leader to visit Damascus since rebels toppled the regime of president Bashar Al Assad in December 2024.
"They highlighted the importance of a robust institutional framework conducive to intensified economic investments and the opportunity of repositioning Syria as a bridge between Europe, the Gulf and Asia by building alternative routes," the statement said.
Four business and defence agreements were signed during Prince Mohammed's visit, on a variety of matters including a $6 billion Saudi investment in building manga-themed amusement parks near Paris, and the strengthening of a defence partnership.
Paris has formal defence agreements with a number of Gulf states, including the UAE, and a deepening strategic co-operation with Saudi Arabia. France, alongside Italy, was one of the few EU states to help Gulf nations defend themselves from Iranian missile and drone attacks after the start of the war in February.
The French Economy Ministry and the Saudi Communications Ministry also signed a preliminary agreement for a co-operation framework in AI, quantum computing and emerging technologies.
Business representatives from France and Saudi Arabia held a meeting during which French shipping giant CMA CGM signed a €434 million ($506 million) contract with Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Gateway Terminal to develop one of its terminals in Jeddah. French rail company Alstom signed a €500 million contract with Riyadh's Royal Commission to develop two metro lines.
The world's top oil exporter, Saudi Aramco, said it had signed agreements with some French companies that could be worth more than $3.7 billion in total. The agreements include procurement deals for drilling equipment and oil country goods, as well as a preliminary agreement to explore industrial AI and related technologies. Saudi Aramco did not identify the French companies involved in the agreements.
