Portugal joined the group of 30 countries willing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran since the start of the war, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this Monday, March 23.
Portugal signed a text in which 30 countries say they are ready to “contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.
First published by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on Thursday, the declaration argues that “maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries” and calls on all states to respect international law and uphold the “fundamental principles of global prosperity and security.”
According to the British Government’s website, in addition to Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Panama and North Macedonia also endorsed the declaration, joining Australia, Canada, South Korea, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.
In the statement, these countries condemn Iran’s recent attacks on commercial ships, attacks on oil and gas energy infrastructure and the “de facto closure” of the Strait of Hormuz and demand that Tehran “immediately stop its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait from commercial navigation.”
In the text, the signatory countries emphasize that “interference in international navigation and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security” and call for an “immediate and comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations”.
The statement was published on March 19, hours after Qatar’s public energy company confirmed “considerable damage” to the Ras Laffan gas complex caused by Iranian missile attacks.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes have also affected oil and natural gas installations in other neighboring Arab countries and blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route.
The Iranian attacks are in retaliation against the military operation launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic, which resulted in the deaths of several leaders and thousands of civilians.
The conflict has led to a rise in the price of oil to around $110, after reaching a record $119 a week ago, well above the $72 it traded at before the war, fueling fears of difficulties similar to the oil crises of 1973 and 1979.
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