Abu Dhabi, March 21: A coalition of 22 nations, including the United Arab Emirates, has condemned recent attacks by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. In a joint statement, they labeled these actions as violations of international law and urged Iran to adhere to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2817.
Released on March 19, this statement was posted by the UAE Foreign Ministry on Saturday. The coalition includes leaders from the UAE, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, and Australia.
The statement criticizes attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Hormuz Strait. It reads, “We strongly condemn Iran’s attacks on unarmed commercial ships in the Gulf, targeting civilian infrastructure including oil and gas facilities, and the Iranian military’s threats to close the Strait.”
The coalition called on Iran to exercise restraint and immediately cease its threats, mining activities, drone and missile attacks, and other attempts to obstruct commercial shipping. They emphasized the necessity for Iran to comply with UNSC Resolution 2817, which underscores the freedom of navigation as a fundamental principle of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
According to UNSC Resolution 2817, interference in international shipping and disruptions to the global energy supply chain pose threats to international peace and security. The coalition urged an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities.
The UAE Foreign Ministry’s statement also welcomed the International Energy Agency’s decision to approve coordinated releases from strategic petroleum reserves. They indicated that further steps would be taken to stabilize the energy market, including increasing output in collaboration with certain producing countries.
The statement concluded with a call for peace and stability, urging all nations to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of global prosperity and security.
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