Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, along with Japan, said they are ready to help to ensure safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, while condemning recent Iranian attacks that have choked global energy supply. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the countries said they would take coordinated steps to stabilise energy markets as tensions disrupt one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” the statement said. It also welcomed the commitment of nations engaged in preparatory planning to safeguard transit routes.
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital routes for crude oil and LPG, has been thrown into crisis after Iran launched repeated attacks on commercial vessels, used drones and explosive boats, and warned it would strike ships trying to pass. The attack forced shipping traffic to collapse and left hundreds of vessels stranded outside the strait, which triggered supply shortages in several countries, including India.
Alongside security measures, the countries said they would work with energy-producing nations to boost output and ease pressure on markets. “We will take other steps to stabilise energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output,” the statement said.
IRAN’S ATTACKS ON VESSELS SLAMMED
The tensions have escalated further after Iran carried out retaliatory strikes on key oil and gas facilities across the Gulf, including major sites in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, following Israeli attacks on its own energy infrastructure. The attacks caused significant damage to energy assets and disrupted production.
QatarEnergy’s CEO told Reuters that the strike knocked out 17 per cent of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, causing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia. He said the damage will take 12.8 million tonnes of LNG capacity offline for three to five years.
The group condemned the attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, as well as the effective closure of the Strait. “We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf,” the statement said. It urged Iran to immediately halt attacks that threaten commercial shipping and regional stability.
The countries warned that the fallout will be felt far beyond the region. “The effects of Iran’s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable,” the statement said. It added that interference with shipping and disruption to energy supply chains pose a direct threat to international peace and security, calling for a “comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure.”
With inputs from agencies
