New Delhi, April 2: A significant meeting chaired by UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper was convened to discuss reopening the Hormuz Strait and ensuring its safety for global navigation. India is participating in this crucial dialogue, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, during a weekly press briefing.
In response to a query, Jaiswal stated that the UK has sent a letter to India, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri representing the country.
The announcement for this important meeting was made by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday, who indicated that it would take place soon. The meeting was held online on Thursday, focusing on finding pathways to reopen the Hormuz Strait.
During the session, Cooper criticized Iran amid rising tensions in the region, labeling its actions as a “direct attack on global economic security.” She emphasized that Iran’s “recklessness” has posed serious threats to international trade and energy supplies.
Cooper asserted that the UK is actively pursuing diplomatic solutions to this crisis. The goal is to restore safety and accessibility to maritime routes in the Hormuz Strait, which have been targeted by Iran in response to US-Israel operations.
According to Cooper, over 25 vessels have been attacked in this strategic maritime corridor, leaving approximately 20,000 sailors stranded on nearly 2,000 ships. This situation continues to exert pressure on global supply chains and energy markets, affecting trade routes for Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq, as well as impacting the supply of liquefied natural gas to Asia, fertilizers to Africa, and jet fuel worldwide.
Iran’s behavior is directed against countries that have not participated in this conflict, which has been condemned by the UN alongside 130 other nations.
This escalating situation not only heightens regional tensions but also poses a significant threat to global economies, especially as the energy crisis deepens.
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