LONDON - Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan stand ready to support efforts to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, their leaders said in a joint statement released by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office.

„We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. We welcome the commitment of the countries involved in the preparatory plans,“ the statement said.

The document also condemns „Iran's recent attacks on unarmed commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas facilities, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces".

„We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. We call on Iran to immediately cease its threats, mine-laying, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817,“ it continues. The statement does not, however, criticise US and Israeli strikes on civilian targets in Iran.

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on 28 February. Major Iranian cities, including Tehran, were hit. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation targeting targets in Israel. US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were also hit.

On 2 March, Major General Ebrahim Jabari of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps warned that the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil exports pass, would be closed to shipping as a result of Israeli and US military action against Iran.
On 5 March, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait is not closed, but ships and tankers are not attempting to cross it for fear of attacks from both sides.

gnews.cz - GH