G7 finance ministers have called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened amid ongoing energy concerns.
In a joint statement on the matter, the finance chiefs from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States said that it is “imperative” that vessels see a safe transit through the Strait, Fox News reports. Officials from three Gulf countries attended the meeting.
According to a statement from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting “reiterated the absolute necessity to permanently restore safe and toll free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, consistent with UNSC Resolution 2817 and the Law of the Sea.”
Similarly, French Finance Minister Lescure told reporters, “We are calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. We are calling for a lasting solution to the conflict.”
“We will closely monitor the impacts together with international organizations. But I want to make it clear – the Strait of Hormuz must be open and free of fees,” the French minister added. He further stated, “If we do nothing, 50 million people could very soon be affected by a food crisis. We must act.”
Last year, the G7 countries reaffirmed that the “Islamic Republic of Iran can never have nuclear weapons,” and urged Iran to “refrain from reconstituting its unjustified enrichment activities.
G7 countries have met regularly since the mid-1980s.
The statement comes as Iran has submitted another peace proposal to end its conflict, although the plan reportedly includes its right to uranium enrichment, an idea that is not approved by President Trump.
