---
title: "Qatar and France Urge Reopening of Hormuz Without Fees or Limits"
description: "A joint statement after Macron’s Doha visit condemned Iran’s strikes on Gulf states as “a serious breach of international law.”"
author: "rews desk"
published: 2026-10-22T01:45:48Z
modified: 2026-10-22T12:34:55Z
url: https://rews.cc/a/qatar-and-france-urge-reopening-of-hormuz-without-fees-or-li-c8b71d
language: en
tags: ["gaza", "hormuz", "iran", "ceasefire", "naval", "mideast", "europe"]
publisher: "Rews (https://rews.cc)"
---

# Qatar and France Urge Reopening of Hormuz Without Fees or Limits

*A joint statement after Macron’s Doha visit condemned Iran’s strikes on Gulf states as “a serious breach of international law.”*

By rews desk · October 22, 2026 · https://rews.cc/a/qatar-and-france-urge-reopening-of-hormuz-without-fees-or-li-c8b71d

## In brief

- Qatar and France called on Wednesday for passage through the Strait of Hormuz to resume “without constraints or fees”
- Their joint statement condemned Iran’s strikes on countries in the region as a serious breach of international law
- Macron said shipping costs had been multiplied by 10 because few uninsured ships attempt the transit
- Macron said a gas deal with Qatar would cover France’s needs through the winter
- The leaders called for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and for unrestricted aid; WFP says 1.4 million face acute food insecurity

Qatar and France called on Wednesday for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to resume “without constraints or fees,” in a joint statement issued after Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, held talks in Doha with President Emmanuel Macron of France, [Al Jazeera reported](https://aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/22/qatar-france-call-for-opening-of-hormuz-and-gaza-ceasefire-implementation).

The [statement](https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/21/10/2026/joint-statement-between-the-state-of-qatar-and-the-french-republic-on-the-occasion-of-president-emmanuel-macrons-visit-to-doha), which Qatar’s Foreign Ministry posted on X, condemned Iranian military strikes on countries in the region as “a serious breach of international law.” It also called for a diplomatic settlement of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program and for steps to protect energy supplies. The reference to fees is pointed: shipping through the strait has been operating under [competing sets of rules](https://rews.cc/a/hormuz-now-has-two-rulebooks-and-tankers-that-break-either-o-c58641), and tankers that cross have come under attack.

Mr. Macron said the biggest obstacle now was cost. Transport prices had been “multiplied by 10,” he said, because few ships were attempting the transit without insurance, [according to Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/21/macron-calls-for-extreme-caution-in-gulf-secures-critical-gas-deal-for-france). He said France and the Gulf states were working on the problem, on “diversification in infrastructure” and eventually on cutting their dependence on the strait.

![A tanker ship approaches a narrow passage between cream-colored landmasses, where a giant upright gold coin blocks the teal waterway.](https://rews.cc/img/6fb7b9e17f734b20c23c2d5046ce8bc0fb727062.webp)

He urged “extreme caution” in the Gulf to keep the conflict from reigniting.

Qatar has been mediating between Iran and the United States. Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, a Qatari mediator, said on Tuesday that diplomacy aimed at easing tensions and reopening the strait was continuing. On Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that “Iran is prepared to give diplomacy another chance.”

Mr. Macron said he had secured a gas agreement with Qatar that would cover France’s needs through the winter, and that it would help bring down fuel and transport costs at home.

On Gaza, the two leaders called for Israeli troops to withdraw “in accordance with the agreed arrangements” and for humanitarian aid to flow urgently and safely, “without conditions or restrictions.” The World Food Program said on Monday that about 1.4 million people in Gaza, roughly two-thirds of the population, faced crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse.

![A large cream fork curves above a yellow truck carrying food sacks and bread, with cream buildings to the right against a teal background.](https://rews.cc/img/c693deb1f075e346add8a4fe731c2ca1333d65e2.webp)

Both countries restated their opposition to any annexation of the West Bank and called for an end to Israeli settlement policy and settler violence. On Lebanon, they backed full implementation of the Trilateral Framework Agreement, which is meant to restore Lebanese sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and bring about a complete Israeli withdrawal, and warned against a security vacuum once the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force ends.

They also said they were ready to jointly back stabilization and economic recovery projects in Syria, in coordination with the Syrian authorities, [according to SANA](https://sana.sy/en/economic/2352827/), the Syrian state news agency.

The state visit, which ran from Oct. 20 to 21, was the first by a French president to Doha, Euronews reported. The two sides held their fourth strategic dialogue alongside it, co-chaired by Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, [Gulf News reported](https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/qatar/qatar-france-denounce-iranian-strikes-urge-unrestricted-passage-through-hormuz-1.500719112). They agreed to widen cooperation on defense, security and the economy.

Mr. Macron’s Gulf tour also took him to Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He reached Doha days after [an American envoy’s visit](https://rews.cc/a/in-doha-an-american-envoy-buries-the-oil-for-protection-barg-0900d1). On Qatar’s mediation, he said: “In the next hours or days we will have Iran’s answer.”