New York:Bahrain The Bahraini government has firmly rejected any permit or fee system for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that transit through this crucial international waterway cannot be suspended or subjected to any unilateral conditions.

According to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani stated that the right of transit through the strait is guaranteed under international law for vessels of all states. He made these remarks during the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

Al Zayani expressed strong opposition to the use of international waterways as tools of pressure or economic coercion. He warned that accepting restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz could set a dangerous precedent for other strategic waterways and stressed that alternative shipping routes could not replace the fundamental right of passage through the Strait.

Addressing regional tensions, Al Zayani accused Iran of conducting nearly 7,000 attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan, involving 1,700 ballistic missiles, 80 cruise missiles, and 5,220 drones. He also claimed that 2,000 cargo vessels and tankers carrying 20,000 seafarers had been detained, while 72 commercial vessels were targeted, resulting in the deaths of 22 seafarers.

The foreign minister highlighted the broader implications of attacks on commercial vessels and navigation restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz, noting that such actions could lead to increased energy, food, shipping, and insurance costs, along with disruptions to global supply chains.

Al Zayani also condemned attacks by Yemen's Houthis on civilian and Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia and threats to navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea. He underscored that security in the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab el-Mandeb is interconnected, warning that threats to one waterway could impact navigation in others.