UAE, Bahrain join 22 countries in wanting to contribute to efforts for securing Hormuz shipping

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were among more than 20 countries on Saturday that said they would contribute to efforts to ensure 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.

“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.

After the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Tehran has retaliated with strikes on its Gulf neighbours, but also on vessels in the strait.

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From March 1 to 19, commodities carriers made just 116 crossings, according to analytics firm Kpler, a decrease of 95% from peacetime averages.

Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil and gas normally flows, and the numerous attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Middle East, have sent energy prices soaring.

“We call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations,” the countries added.