Unlike the US, France has not confirmed that Iran has planted mines in the Strait of Hormuz

JAKARTA - French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin has not been able to confirm whether mines have been planted in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said this after US media reported that at least 10 mines had been identified on the world's energy routes.

"At the moment, I have no certainty about this, but in any case, we are preparing for the possibility of removing the mines," Vautrin told France Info radio on Wednesday, May 20, quoted by Al Jazeera.

Mine-sweeping vessels are en route to the Strait of Hormuz, as part of a joint French-British mission in the area.

Currently one of the mine-sweeping vessels is docked at their military base in the waters of the east African country.

"France has one ship at their base in Djibouti," Vautrin said.