Brussels: The EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have jointly declared any claims of sovereignty or control over the Strait of Hormuz as "unlawful," rejecting the imposition of permits or fees on international shipping through the waterway.
According to Anadolu Agency, the announcement was made following the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation held in Brussels on July 13. The forum, co-chaired by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, emphasized that no bilateral agreements should unlawfully regulate or restrict passage rights through an international strait. The two blocs reiterated that such rights are protected under international law and should not be controlled by any state.
The EU and GCC highlighted that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for international shipping, is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They stressed that all states' ships have the right to pass without conditions imposed by any state.
Furthermore, the EU and GCC strongly condemned Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the strait, which they declared endangered civilian lives and violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817. They called for an immediate cessation of all attacks and interference with maritime navigation by Iran, demanding that the strait remains open without conditions or fees.
The joint statement underlined that the security of the strait is of concern to all parties relying on its safe passage and expressed solidarity with the affected countries and seafarers. Both the EU and GCC pledged ongoing coordination to ensure freedom of navigation and the protection of international shipping and seafarers. They also urged restraint and reaffirmed their commitment to diplomacy and dialogue as means to resolve the crisis and secure the strait's navigation freedom.
This development occurs amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with continued exchanges between the US and Iran, despite a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding signed in June intended to resolve conflict and establish peace.