Iran tells France that its allies must refrain from escalating situation

Iran's foreign minister told his French counterpart that countries must refrain from any action that could escalate the conflict in the Middle East, Abbas Araghchi said in comments posted on his Telegram account on Sunday.

The remarks came after US President Donald Trump called on several countries, including France, to deploy vessels to help secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked following US-Israeli strikes on its territory.

About a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the strait, a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman.