LONDON
Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan have signaled their readiness to support efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, following recent attacks by Iran in the Gulf.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the leaders said in a joint statement.
They condemned the attacks, saying: “We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.”
They urged Tehran to halt aggressive actions, calling on Iran to “cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817.”
Highlighting the broader impact, the statement warned that “the effects of Iran’s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable,” and reaffirmed that “freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
The countries also underlined that interference with international shipping “constitute[s] a threat to international peace and security” and called for “an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.”
On energy security, the statement welcomed the International Energy Agency’s decision to release strategic petroleum reserves and pledged further action to stabilize markets. “We will take other steps to stabilise energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output.”
Regional escalation continued to flare since Israel and the US launched a joint offensive on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks across the region and has effectively closed for most ships the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route that normally handles about 20 million barrels per day, and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade.
Oil prices increased on Thursday after Iran launched attacks on energy facilities in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with the US and Israel.
International benchmark Brent crude traded at $113.55 per barrel at 10.02 a.m. local time (0702 GMT), up 5.74% from the previous close of $107.38.