A coalition of 22 nations has delivered a stern warning to Iran, demanding adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 2817 following attacks on commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The joint statement, first published on March 19 and amplified via the UAE’s Foreign Ministry on X over the weekend, unites heavyweights like the UAE, UK, France, Germany, and Japan in a call for de-escalation.
Signatories including the Netherlands, South Korea, Australia, Bahrain, and multiple EU members decry Iran’s pattern of aggression: assaults on merchant vessels, strikes against energy infrastructure, and threats to seal off the strategic chokepoint. ‘These actions undermine the basic right to freedom of passage under international maritime law,’ the document asserts.
The leaders explicitly call for an end to provocative tactics such as deploying mines, launching drones and missiles, and any efforts to impede safe passage through the strait. They frame these incidents as direct threats to international peace, invoking Resolution 2817’s provisions against disruptions to vital shipping lanes and energy flows.
In a proactive move, the group applauds the IEA’s coordinated strategic reserve release to ease market pressures. They commit to additional measures, like ramping up production with partner countries, to safeguard energy supplies amid the crisis.
This broad diplomatic front underscores growing alarm over Iran’s destabilizing behavior in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors. As tensions simmer, the message is unequivocal: respect for global norms is non-negotiable to avert broader fallout on economies worldwide.