President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday France would never ​take part in operations to unblock the ‌Strait of Hormuz, pushing back on comments by US President Donald Trump that Paris was willing to help.

Trump, speaking at a ​White House event on Monday, said he ​had spoken to Macron, giving him an ‘8 out ⁠of 10’ score on his stance towards getting ​allies to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and suggested ​Macron would join US-backed efforts.

“We are not party to the conflict and therefore France will never take part in operations to ​open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in ​the current context,” Macron said at the start of a ‌cabinet ⁠meeting to discuss the conflicts in the Middle East.

France has been pushing on with its efforts to put together a coalition to secure the Strait of ​Hormuz once the ​security situation ⁠stabilises and without a US role, French officials have said.

“We are convinced that ​once the situation has calmed down—and I ​deliberately ⁠use this term broadly — once the situation has calmed down, that is to say, once the main bombing ⁠has ​ceased, we are ready, along ​with other nations, to assume responsibility for the escort system,” Macron said.