DUBAI: More than 20 countries said they would contribute to efforts ensuring safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, condemning Iran's closure of the vital waterway.
"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," said the 22 countries, mostly European but also including the UAE and Bahrain.
"We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning," they said in a joint statement.
From March 1 to 19, commodities carriers made just 116 crossings, according to analytics firm Kpler — a decrease of 95 per cent from peacetime averages.
"We call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations," the countries added. - AFP
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