London, Apr 2 (EFE).- The United Kingdom on Thursday condemned Iran’s “recklessness” in closing of the Strait of Hormuz, warning it threatens global economic security.
The remarks came as British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper convened representatives from more than 40 countries to coordinate efforts to restore freedom of navigation.
Cooper warned that the move threatens «global economic security» and disrupts vital international trade routes.
She chaired the virtual meeting of representatives from more than 40 countries, notably excluding the United States, to seek coordinated solutions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which one-fifth of global oil supplies passes, and to restore freedom of navigation.
The meeting followed a call by US President Donald Trump urging countries such as the UK to «go and get their own oil» if Iran keeps the strategic passage closed.
“In today’s meeting, we are focusing on the diplomatic and international planning measures, including collective mobilization of our full range of diplomatic and economic tools and pressures, reassurance work with industry, insurers and energy markets, and also action to guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and effective coordination that we need across the world to enable a safe and sustained opening of the strait,” Cooper said.
At the start of the meeting, she noted that only five vessels had transited the strait in the past 24 hours, compared with the usual 150 vessels per day, while more than 25 attacks against ships had occurred, leaving «some 2,000 vessels stranded.»
She said Iran was hijacking an international maritime route and holding the global economy hostage, which has disrupted the trade routes of countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iraq.
The foreign secretary stressed that the waterway is also critical for liquefied natural gas shipments to Asia, fertilizers bound for Africa, and aviation fuel supplies worldwide.
She warned that Iran’s actions were affecting countries not involved in the conflict and were already contributing to higher mortgage rates, fuel prices and the cost of living in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
“Iranian recklessness towards countries who were never involved in this conflict… is not just hitting mortgage rates and petrol prices and the cost of living here in the UK and in many different countries across the world, it is hitting our global economic security.”
The meeting, convened by the United Kingdom, was attended by representatives from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, South Korea, and New Zealand, among others, with participation largely dominated by European countries.
Spain, however, did not join the talks.
Sources from Spain’s Foreign Ministry said the country’s absence reflected its position of avoiding actions that could contribute to the conflict, while advocating for «de-escalation, dialogue, and respect for international law.» EFE
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