6 hours ago22 countries voice ‘readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts’ to open Strait of Hormuz
Twenty-two countries have now signed onto a joint statement signaling their “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.
The growing list, which includes NATO members, comes after President Donald Trump ripped NATO for acting like “cowards” Friday. The president said “they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz.”
The joint statement said, “We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” and, “We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”
The statement is attributed to the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
“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,” the statement also said.
“We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. We call 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,” the statement continued, referencing a resolution passed last week that spoke out against Iran’s recent actions.