France Unable to Confirm Attack on French Cargo Ship in Hormuz

(MENAFN) French authorities acknowledged Wednesday they were unable to verify media reports claiming that a CMA CGM-operated cargo vessel had come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, as officials urged caution pending further confirmation.

"I cannot confirm this morning whether this actually happened," government spokesperson Maud Bregeon told a broadcaster, responding to circulating reports alleging the vessel had been targeted in waters off the coast of Dubai. She stressed that if the accounts proved accurate, the incident would be "totally unacceptable."

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot echoed that measured tone, telling franceinfo he was equally unable to confirm the reports at this stage, while anticipating that the alleged shipowner would provide clarification "in the coming hours."

Tabarot also disclosed the scale of France's maritime exposure in the region, noting that there were currently "59 vessels of French interest" still present in the Strait of Hormuz.

American and British media had reported earlier that a French cargo ship may have been struck by gunfire in the strategically vital waterway, prompting the official response from Paris.

Regional tensions have been running high since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, setting off a chain of retaliatory actions by Tehran targeting Israel and US allies across the Gulf, and resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation took hold on April 8, but follow-on negotiations in Islamabad failed to consolidate a lasting deal. US President Donald Trump subsequently extended the truce without attaching a fixed end date.

The United States has maintained a naval blockade against Iranian maritime traffic through the strait since April 13.

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