His Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and for Iran to be fully held accountable for its illegal obstruction of international navigation, during a speech to the United Nations Security Council's high-level open debate on the safety and protection of sea lanes, held under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
"In recent years, the Council has taken important steps to address a number of developments that threaten maritime security, most notably its recent efforts in the context of Iran's brutal aggression against the Gulf States and Jordan, and the threats resulting from the Islamic Republic of Iran's deliberate obstruction of maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, through the adoption of Resolution 2817, which condemned any actions or threats by Iran aimed at blocking, obstructing or interfering with navigation The sea through the Strait of Hormuz."
"The recent resolutions issued by the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), its Legal Commission and the United Nations Human Rights Council on Iran's actions in the Strait once again reflect the position of the international community on Iran's demand to stop its illegal actions in the Strait of Hormuz and its environs, and to ensure that the strait remains open and that transit through it is unrestricted, in accordance with international law," he added.
"Allowing Iran to use this international strait as a tool of pressure and for political gains would undermine the stability and security required by the international order and global trade," he said, noting that if Iran is allowed to continue to close the strait, it will set a dangerous precedent that would undermine freedom of navigation in vital international waterways around the world.
His Excellency reviewed the treacherous violations committed by Iran, including the imposition of illegal duties on transiting vessels, the launch of terrorist attacks and threats against navigation, the planting of mines and the practice of discrimination between foreign vessels, in clear violation of the relevant international resolutions, in particular Security Council resolution 2817.
"In light of this economic coercion and flagrant violations of international law, my country holds Iran responsible, and affirms that Iran is obliged to provide compensation for all damages caused by its internationally illegal acts, including the consequences of such conduct at sea and in the marine environment," he said.
Given the vital importance of this strait, the consequences of its closure are already beginning to appear globally and will be deep and wide-ranging, including energy security, supply chains, food security and fertilizers necessary for agriculture, especially in the countries of the Global South, noting that the effects on the international economy are very serious.
"Iran's practices underscore the need for collective action by the international community to reach a lasting solution that guarantees freedom of navigation and the right of transit through the Strait of Hormuz unconditionally and sustainably," he said. He stressed that the UAE is ready to participate in efforts to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, in accordance with the provisions of international law.
Prior to the discussion, Al Marar participated in a meeting with the press chaired by H.E. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the participation of representatives from more than 90 countries, where the participating countries sent a unified message to the international community that Iran must immediately put an end to its illegal actions in the Strait of Hormuz and its surroundings, ensure that the Strait remains open, and maintain the freedom of transit through it without restrictions, in accordance with international law.
The participating countries stressed that Iran's closure of the strait and the continuation of its attacks pose a threat to international security and the rights and freedom of navigation, with consequent repercussions at the global level.