Chair’s statement on the meeting on the Strait of Hormuz

“Today the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Yvette Cooper, convened a meeting of over 40 countries from every continent of the world, as well as key international organisations including the International Maritime Organisation and the European Union.

“This meeting showed clearly the determination of the international community to secure freedom of navigation and re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is a direct threat to global prosperity.

“The Strait is one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors. It is used to transport vital supplies and products such as fertilisers urgently needed to support farming in Africa. It is a primary route for global energy exports, delivering oil, refined petroleum and liquified natural gas to countries across the globe. These supplies help to power homes, facilitate air travel, and support international trade and food chains. Disruption to shipping through the Strait therefore has immediate and far-reaching consequences for global supplies, prices and economic stability, with severe humanitarian effects for communities the world over.

“Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail. To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea. We discussed a number of areas of possible collective, coordinated, action:

1. Increase international diplomatic pressure, including through the UN, to send clear and co-ordinated messages to Iran to permit unimpeded transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz and to comprehensively reject the imposition of tolls on vessels which seek to pass through.
2. Explore co-ordinated economic and political measures, such as sanctions, to bear down on Iran if the Strait remains closed.
3. Work together with the International Maritime Organisation to secure the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the Strait and get shipping moving again.
4. Joint arrangements to support greater market and operational confidence. This includes working with shipping operators and industry bodies to ensure coherent and timely information sharing.

“We agreed to take forward further discussions among experts and officials in participating countries to secure freedom of navigation. It is imperative that international law is respected and that Iran fully re-opens the Strait of Hormuz.”