Macron Says France, US Will ‘Act Together’ on Energy Tensions, Strait of Hormuz

France and the United States have agreed to work together to ease energy market tensions, protect critical infrastructure in West Asia and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, French President Emmanuel Macron said after meeting US President Donald Trump on Monday.

The meeting took place following Macron’s arrival in New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“Upon my arrival in New York, I met President Donald Trump. We decided to act together to ease tensions in the energy markets by protecting critical infrastructure in the Middle East and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron wrote on X.

Push for a halt to infrastructure strikes

Macron said Paris and Washington would also combine their efforts to secure a moratorium on attacks targeting energy infrastructure and Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

“We will also pool our efforts to secure a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure and against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Civilian populations must be protected, and we must initiate as soon as possible a serious negotiation on the conditions for peace between Russia and Ukraine,” he said.

Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Tuesday, amid US efforts to encourage de-escalation and revive negotiations.

According to Axios, Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov has been working with White House envoys to arrange the meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

Macron is also scheduled to address the UNGA’s general debate on Tuesday morning, with France speaking alongside Brazil, the United States and Qatar.

Iran’s leaders head to UNGA

The diplomatic engagements come as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday. He is expected to hold consultations on regional developments during the UNGA High-Level Week, Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA reported.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to leave for New York on Tuesday and address the General Assembly on Wednesday morning, September 23.

According to IRNA, Pezeshkian will outline Tehran’s positions on international developments, including what Iran describes as a US-Israeli “war of aggression” against the country. He is also expected to meet foreign leaders and senior officials.

IRNA reported that Washington had denied visas to some members of the Iranian delegation, including members of the President’s media team. The agency described the decision as an “unprecedented hostile action”.

The UNGA general debate is scheduled for September 22–26 and September 28. This year’s session is being held under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All”.

With inputs from ANI