International leaders from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany condemned the situation in the Strait of Hormuz this Saturday in a joint statement, calling on Iran to de-escalate the conflict. "We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran against unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks against civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian naval forces," the document states, which was also signed by Japan, the Netherlands, Italy, among others. "We express our deep concern over the escalation of the conflict. We call on Iran to immediately cease its threats, the laying of mines, drone and missile attacks, as well as other attempts to block the Strait to commercial maritime traffic, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817," the document continues. The countries call for reducing the escalation of the conflict and avoiding actions that could put international navigation at risk, to respect international law and the principles of freedom of maritime transit. Conflict in the Middle East: Moratorium on attacks on oil and gas After recalling that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, the document emphasizes that "the effects of Iran's actions will be felt by people everywhere in the world, especially the most vulnerable." The signatories call for "an immediate and comprehensive moratorium on attacks against civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities." Additionally, they express their willingness to contribute to efforts to ensure safe passage through Hormuz and welcome the decision of the International Energy Agency to authorize a coordinated release of strategic oil reserves. "We will also take other measures to stabilize energy markets, including working with certain producer countries to increase production," they state. The document, signed in total by more than twenty countries, is disclosed on the same day that the United States Armed Forces have announced they have weakened Iran's ability to "threaten the freedom of navigation" in the Strait of Hormuz after attacking this week an underground arsenal situated along the coast of the Islamic republic. The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, also stated this Saturday that the condition for ending the war in the Middle East passes through the "immediate cessation of aggressions" by the United States and Israel, as well as guarantees that such attacks will not be repeated in the future.
