Iran: 12 countries demand Strait of Hormuz opening

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of 12 countries have demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, even as they called for an end to attacks on oil facilities. This was disclosed in a joint statement issued on Thursday, after a consultative ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers of a […]

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of 12 countries have demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, even as they called for an end to attacks on oil facilities.

This was disclosed in a joint statement issued on Thursday, after a consultative ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers of a group of Arab and Islamic countries regarding ongoing war in the Middle East.

The countries included the State of Qatar, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, and the Republic of Lebanon.

Others are the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Republic of Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.

Daily Trust reports that the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping hub, through which over 20 per cent of global oil exports are shipped has worsened global supply, triggering a spike in crude oil prices.

After their meeting on Wednesday in Riyadh, the ministers condemned attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Türkiye.

They urged Iran “to refrain from any measures or threats aimed at closing or obstructing international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz or threatening maritime security in Bab al-Mandab.”