UK gathers more than 40 countries to press Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Britain hosted talks with more than 40 countries on Thursday to press Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as governments and maritime officials pushed for safer passage through one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

AP reported that the virtual meeting brought together diplomats from more than 40 countries. The United States did not attend. The talks were aimed at building diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran after attacks on shipping and concerns over the waterway’s closure.

The effort builds on a March 19 joint statement from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan, which condemned attacks on commercial vessels and said they were ready to help ensure safe passage. The International Maritime Organization also called for an internationally coordinated safe-passage framework for the strait.

On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again stressed the importance of respecting navigational rights and freedoms along critical maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest round of talks shows the issue remains high on the international agenda, with governments seeking a diplomatic answer to a shipping crisis that has already drawn repeated warnings from global institutions.