France described them as tourists who had been taken as “state hostages” to be used by Iran as bargaining chips. Nevertheless, Esfandiari’s house arrest in France was lifted just after the news broke that the teachers would be allowed to leave Iran. Iran says that vessels from “non-hostile” countries can pass through, but traffic through the strait has been reduced to a tiny fraction. France was the first country to call for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to the US and Israeli attacks. We have to build a new order,” Macron told students in an address in Seoul, South Korea last week.

Source: The Irish Times April 09, 2026 21:08 UTC