- European states and Japan have declared their readiness to protect the Strait of Hormuz.
- They are asking Iran to stop threatening, mining and blocking commercial shipping.
- Leaders strongly condemn Iran’s attacks on ships and energy infrastructure.
- According to the statement, the consequences of Iran’s actions are global and will hit the most vulnerable.
- The Iranian blockade is holding up thousands of ships, driving up oil prices and deepening the conflict.
Five European countries and Japan expressed their readiness to contribute to “reasonable” efforts to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement on Thursday. They also expressed deep concern about the escalating conflict in the Middle East and called on Iran to stop threatening, laying mines and blocking the strait to commercial shipping. TASR informs about it.
Leaders of Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy a Japan stated that they condemn in the strongest possible terms Tehran’s attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf, on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, as well as the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.
“The consequences of Iran’s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable,” warned states, pointing out that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law. “We are ready to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure a safe passage through the strait. We welcome the commitment of the states involved in the preparatory work,” the statement goes on to say that maritime security benefits all countries.
Due to the Iranian blockade according to AFP approximately 3,200 ships with 20,000 sailors were stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic has been facing attacks by Israel and the US for the third week, which began on February 28, and to which it responded with retaliatory strikes on Israeli territory and in the Persian Gulf states. The war conflict in the Middle East led, among other things to the severe disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, causing oil prices to rise.
