French Labor Minister: Strait of Hormuz Closure Pushed Unemployment to a 6 Year High

French Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou, in an interview with Journal du Dimanche published Sunday, 25 Mordad 1405 (August 16, 2026), reported by Ecoiran citing Fars News Agency, said France's unemployment rate rising to its highest level in nearly six years is a direct result of slower economic growth caused by the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, compounded by this summer's heat waves and wildfires. Per data released by France's statistics agency INSEE on August 7 (17 Mordad), the unemployment rate reached 8.3% in the latest quarter, up from 8.1% in the prior period, the highest since 2020.

Farandou said disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply raised gas and fuel costs in Europe, putting heavy pressure on French economic activity. Al Jazeera, which also covered the data, said the rise in French unemployment is a serious warning for the entire eurozone and shows the regional crisis is affecting employment at the heart of Europe, beyond its impact on oil prices.