, March 17 -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said France will not take part in operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz "in the current context," amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking at a Defense and National Security Council meeting on Iran and regional issues, Macron added that France could consider participating in ship escort operations only once the situation stabilizes.

The announcement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday called on several countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil to join a coalition to secure vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway responsible for about 20 percent of global oil shipments.

The call follows joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehr...