22 Nations Strongly Condemn Attack on Fuel-Carrying Vessel

An attack occurred on a Thai company’s fuel-laden ship en route to India through the Strait of Hormuz. Twenty-two countries, including the United Arab Emirates, have strongly condemned attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The joint statement highlighted that Iran has effectively almost closed the Strait of Hormuz and targeted unarmed ships. These nations expressed their readiness to contribute to necessary initiatives to ensure safe maritime routes.

Kathmandu. Twenty-two nations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have issued a joint statement opposing the recent attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement was signed by leaders from the UAE, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, and Australia.

The statement said, “We strongly condemn the recent attacks by Iran. These attacks targeted unarmed commercial vessels and also struck civilian infrastructure such as oil and gas facilities. The Iranian military has rendered the Strait of Hormuz nearly impassable.”

Emphasizing that freedom of maritime passage is a fundamental principle of international law, the statement referenced the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It warned that Iran’s actions could impact civilians worldwide, especially vulnerable communities more severely. The countries reaffirmed their willingness to contribute to necessary efforts ensuring safe maritime navigation and welcomed similar initiatives from other nations planning action in this direction.