Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan condemn Iranian attacks on infrastructure and energy facilities in the Gulf states.

Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan today expressed their strong condemnation of Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities in the Gulf states, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of commercial ships passing through it.

In a joint statement, the governments of these countries called on the Iranian authorities to immediately stop their threats to countries in the region with marches, missiles, and other attempts to close the strait to commercial navigation by planting mines, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution No. 2817.

She stressed that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, warning that interference in international maritime navigation and disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security.

The statement stressed that the signatory countries demand, under Resolution 2817, an immediate and comprehensive cessation of Iranian attacks on infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities.

The statement affirmed the readiness of European countries and Japan to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the signatory countries welcome the commitment of a number of other countries to develop preparatory plans in this regard.