I have the honour to deliver the following Joint Statement on behalf of Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, France, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, the League of Arab States, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Maldives, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Palestine, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Yemen.
We remain steadfast in our support for Security Council Resolution 2817 and call for its immediate implementation. We condemn the continued attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against States in the region, and its disruption of international trade, energy security and the global economy.
Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten international peace and security and the rights of transit passage and the navigational rights and freedoms of all States.
We also strongly condemn the Houthis’ decision to resume hostilities in Yemen, their continued strikes on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and their reckless attacks in the Red Sea. The Houthis’ advance in the Bab al-Mandeb will only heighten risks to international shipping, maritime security, and global trade through this critical waterway.
We reiterate our call for the urgent and full re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the safe, secure and unimpeded transit of all vessels, in accordance with international law as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and without the imposition of tolls, conditions or illegal charges.
As the Secretary-General warned last month: choking the arteries of global trade and squeezing the global food system will result in higher prices, deepening hunger, weaker harvests and greater suffering – especially for the world’s most vulnerable.
we pay tribute to the seafarers who work tirelessly, at risk to their own safety, to restore the flow of global trade. Commercial shipping and seafarers must never be used as leverage, and we condemn Iran’s actions that put innocent lives at risks.
We reaffirm our support for the vital role of the International Maritime Organisation and of partners in the region in re-establishing safe, secure and unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and to working with the shipping industry so that operations may resume as soon as conditions permit.
We call for the full restoration of free transit in accordance with navigational rights and freedoms, without delay.
Thank you.