European and Japanese leaders condemned Iranian attacks, warning of global energy disruption and pledging support to keep the vital Hormuz shipping route open.
The UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan said on March 19 that they are prepared to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping lane blocked by Iran that U.S. President Donald Trump has asked allies to assist with opening.
In a joint statement, the countries condemned Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and energy infrastructure, as well as the effective closure of the key shipping route, and called on Tehran to immediately halt its actions.
They said disruption to global energy supplies poses a threat to international peace and security and that freedom of navigation must be upheld under international law.
“We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict,” they said. “We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping. We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.”
The statement came as Iran stepped up strikes across Persian Gulf energy infrastructure, hitting refineries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Qatar, while also targeting shipping in the region.
The escalation sent oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude rising to more than $119 per barrel at session highs and U.S. West Texas Intermediate briefly topping $100, as markets reacted to growing risks to Middle East supply and disruptions to flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil trade.
Since the start of the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran, Tehran has disrupted traffic through the strait for vessels it says are linked to its adversaries and their allies.
Trump Musters Allies on Hormuz
In normal conditions, roughly 100 ships, including about 50 oil tankers, pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, which tracks maritime data. That flow has slowed to a trickle amid Iran’s blockade, which regime leaders have vowed to use as an economic weapon to force oil prices higher and pressure the United States and Israel to halt their attacks.
Trump has called on NATO allies and others to deploy ships to help reopen Hormuz and stabilize energy markets, but there was initially little offer of support, prompting the president to ramp up pressure.
“I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Strait?’“ Trump wrote in a social media post on March 18. ”That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast.”
In their joint statement on March 19, the handful of European countries and Japan said they are ready to help and encouraged others to act.
“We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” they said, while pledging to take further steps to stabilize energy markets, including “working with certain producing nations to increase output.”
“Maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries,” they wrote. “We call on all states to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security.”
New Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement published by state media this week that Tehran would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and continue attacks across the region.
By Tom Ozimek
