The United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan today expressed their strong condemnation of Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities in Gulf countries, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the targeting of commercial vessels passing through it. In a joint statement, the governments of these countries called on the Iranian authorities to immediately cease their threats against regional countries from drones, missiles, and other attempts to close the strait to navigation, such as mining, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817. They affirmed that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, warning that interference in international maritime shipping and disruption of global energy supply chains pose a threat to international peace and security. The statement emphasized that the signatory countries demand an immediate and comprehensive cessation of Iranian attacks on infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, in accordance with Resolution 2817. The statement also confirmed that European and Japanese countries are ready to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the signatory countries welcome the commitment of a number of other countries to make preparatory plans in this regard.
