France says it's working with its European partners on an observation mission to ensure maritime security in the Persian Gulf, where tensions have climbed with Iran's seizure last week of a U.K.-flagged oil tanker.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made no mention of a Europe-led "maritime protection mission" announced a day earlier by his
British counterpart, Jeremy Hunt, offering instead what seems to be a softer version.
France is working "at this moment on a European initiative" with
Britain and
Germany, he told lawmakers, without elaborating.