ISTANBUL 

Bahrain on Tuesday called for a firm international response to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the waterway’s strategic importance to global interests.

In a statement, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern over Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation,” saying such a move would violate international and maritime law and pose a serious risk to maritime security in the Gulf region.

The ministry said closing the strait would represent a “dangerous escalation that threatens regional stability and international peace,” calling for decisive international action to safeguard navigation in the strategically vital Strait.

It also stressed the importance of protecting international shipping lanes and securing global oil supplies and trade routes passing through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The statement urged countries affected by the potential closure to move quickly to strengthen maritime security initiatives and reaffirm commitment to international laws regulating freedom of navigation.

It further called on the UN Security Council to “assume its legal responsibilities regarding Iranian threats to close international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” warning such a move could cause major losses to the global economy.

Last Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strategy of keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed "through which around 20 million barrels of oil pass daily" would continue in the coming days, citing what it described as directives from Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran since Feb. 28.

Since that date, Israel and the US have carried out attacks on Iran that have killed more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and security officials, while Tehran has responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel.

Iran has also targeted what it describes as US military sites and interests in several Arab countries, with some attacks causing casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, actions condemned by the affected states.

*Writing by Khaled Badr​​​​​​​