Manama, March 21 (SANA) Bahrain and a group of Western and Asian countries on Saturday condemned Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning of risks to global energy supplies.
In a joint statement, the countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada and South Korea, cited attacks on unarmed vessels, civilian infrastructure and oil and gas facilities, as well as actions disrupting navigation in the strategic waterway.
They called on Tehran to halt threats, naval mining, and drone and missile attacks, and to comply with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2817.
The statement said freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law and warned that continued escalation could disrupt global shipping and energy supply chains.
The countries said they were ready to support efforts to ensure safe transit through the strait and welcomed the International Energy Agency’s coordinated release of strategic oil reserves.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have risen in recent weeks amid reports of attacks on infrastructure and energy facilities in Gulf countries, alongside disruptions to one of the world’s most critical routes for oil and gas shipments.
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