FRANCE AND SAUDI ARABIA LOOK AT BYPASSING HORMUZ

Developing story: French, Saudi, Omani, Iranian or shipping-industry statements could change the status of bypass discussions.

France and Saudi Arabia are expected to discuss plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, the Associated Press reported Saturday, signaling that major energy consumers and producers are preparing for a Gulf crisis that may not be resolved quickly. The talks come as Iran continues to claim leverage over the strait and as shipping traffic remains far below normal.

The significance is strategic. Before the war, Hormuz carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and liquefied natural gas. If governments are now openly discussing how to route exports around it, they are no longer treating the closure or partial closure as a short-lived disruption. They are preparing for a changed energy map.

Saudi Arabia already has some options outside Hormuz, including routes to the Red Sea and sales from hubs such as Fujairah outside the strait. Those alternatives can keep some cargo moving, but they do not fully replace the scale and convenience of normal Gulf transit. Bypassing Hormuz also raises costs, complicates scheduling and creates new exposure to Red Sea risk.

France’s role reflects Europe’s vulnerability to fuel and inflation shocks. Higher crude and refined-product prices can move quickly into transport costs, utility bills and central-bank policy. A French-Saudi discussion therefore belongs not only in energy diplomacy but in the wider fight to contain war-driven inflation.

Iran is likely to view bypass planning as part of the U.S. and allied effort to reduce Tehran’s leverage. That could make the talks politically sensitive even if the discussions focus on infrastructure, shipping logistics and emergency resilience rather than direct confrontation with Iran.

The challenge is that bypass routes take time, money and security guarantees. Pipelines, ports, storage, insurance arrangements and naval protection cannot be created overnight. Any short-term response will depend on existing infrastructure and ship-to-ship transfers, while longer-term plans would require sustained investment.

What is confirmed is that France and Saudi Arabia are expected to discuss ways to bypass Hormuz. What remains unresolved is whether those discussions produce a practical route plan, whether other Gulf states join and whether bypass efforts reduce Iran’s leverage or provoke new pressure on alternative corridors.

Fact-check date: August 22, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Associated Press; Reuters. Developing note: French, Saudi, Omani, Iranian or shipping-industry statements could change the status of bypass discussions.