Paris, July 4: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on social media platform X that the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is returning to its home port in Toulon from the Middle East.
According to news agency Xinhua, the aircraft carrier was deployed to the region to prepare for a proposed multinational maritime security mission in the Strait of Hormuz, led by France and the United Kingdom.
In his post, Macron stated that the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran marks significant progress towards regional stability. As a result, France has decided to adjust its military presence in the Middle East.
However, he clarified that France’s mine-clearing resources and security fleet will remain deployed in the area and will be ready to conduct operations with allied countries if necessary.
French media reports indicate that the Charles de Gaulle is currently in the Mediterranean Sea.
In mid-April, France and the UK announced that they would lead a multinational security escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz. Following this, France sent the Charles de Gaulle to the Middle East in May to officially launch the mission after the conflict subsided.
An agreement on the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran was reached on June 14. The next day, Macron stated that if conditions were favorable, the Charles de Gaulle could reach the Strait of Hormuz within two to three days to join the escort mission.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Iran has agreed to “almost all the terms” needed by the US in ongoing negotiations regarding its nuclear program. However, he reiterated that Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
In an interview with CNBC, Trump emphasized that his administration’s primary goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He expressed confidence that the negotiations are progressing in favor of the US.
Trump stated, “Negotiations are ongoing, and we will see what happens next. But I believe they have agreed to almost all our key terms.” He clarified that the aim is not to conduct traditional military operations against Iran but to completely eliminate its nuclear program.
When asked if he seeks a change of regime in Tehran, he denied it, saying, “I do not want to change the regime. My only demand is that Iran should not have nuclear weapons.”
Trump also claimed that US military actions have significantly weakened Iran’s military capability since his re-election.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.
