BRUSSELS — The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is guaranteed under international law, rejecting any attempts to impose restrictions on international shipping and condemning Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels and regional countries.The joint statement was issued following the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation held in Brussels on July 13. The meeting was co-chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in his capacity as president of the GCC Ministerial Council.The EU and GCC stressed that the right of transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as an international strait used for navigation, is protected under international law and reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They said no state has the right to suspend, obstruct or condition that passage.The two sides strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz and on the sovereign territories of Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Jordan, saying the attacks endangered civilians and seafarers, violated international law and breached UN Security Council Resolution 2817.The statement rejected as unlawful any claims of sovereignty or control over the Strait of Hormuz, as well as any attempt to impose permits, transit fees or service charges on international navigation. It also said no bilateral arrangement or memorandum between states can lawfully regulate or restrict the internationally protected right of transit passage.The EU and GCC expressed full solidarity with the countries affected by the attacks and with seafarers of all nationalities, stressing that any threat to the security of one state is a concern for all parties that rely on the safety of the strategic waterway.They called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally cease all attacks and interference with maritime navigation, keep the Strait of Hormuz open without conditions or fees, and fully comply with international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The statement also rejected any unilateral or unlawful arrangements affecting navigation through the strait and emphasized the role of international institutions, particularly the International Maritime Organization, in governing maritime safety and security.The EU and GCC said they will continue close coordination to safeguard freedom of navigation, protect international shipping and seafarers, and promote a just and lasting peace and security in the region in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.The statement concluded by renewing calls for restraint and reaffirming the commitment of both sides to dialogue and diplomacy as the only path to resolving the crisis and ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
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