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The UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Japan said on March 19 that they are prepared to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping lane blocked by Iran that U.S. President Donald Trump has asked allies to assist with opening.

In a joint statement, the countries condemned Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and energy infrastructure, as well as the effective closure of the key shipping route, and called on Tehran to immediately halt its actions.

They said disruption to global energy supplies poses a threat to international peace and security and that freedom of navigation must be upheld under international law.

"We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict," they said. "We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping. We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait."

The statement came as Iran <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/iran-steps-up-attacks-against-gulf-oil-facilities-sending-crude-prices-soaring-6000931">stepped up</a> strikes across Persian Gulf energy infrastructure, hitting refineries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Qatar, while also targeting shipping in the region.

The escalation sent oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude rising to more than $119 per barrel at session highs and U.S. West Texas Intermediate briefly topping $100, as markets reacted to growing risks to Middle East supply and disruptions to flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil trade.

Since the start of the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran, Tehran has disrupted traffic through the strait for vessels it says are linked to its adversaries and their allies.
<h2>Trump Musters Allies on Hormuz</h2>
In normal conditions, roughly 100 ships, including about 50 oil tankers, pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, which tracks maritime data. That flow has slowed to a trickle amid Iran's blockade, which regime leaders have <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/irans-new-supreme-leader-says-hormuz-closure-must-remain-an-option-vows-revenge-5997754">vowed</a> to use as an economic weapon to force oil prices higher and pressure the United States and Israel to halt their attacks.

Trump has called on NATO allies and others to deploy ships to help reopen Hormuz and stabilize energy markets, but there was initially <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/most-nato-members-wont-join-us-israel-war-against-iran-trump-says-5999917">little offer</a> of support, prompting the president to <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trump-issues-new-warning-to-nato-allies-over-strait-of-hormuz-6000424">ramp up</a> pressure.

“I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Strait?’" Trump wrote in a social media post on March 18. "That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on March 19 that member states are intensely discussing how to tackle the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Echoing comments made the previous day, he said: “Everybody agrees this strait cannot stay closed. It has to open up again as soon as possible. This is crucial for the world's economy.”

“I am confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interests, as we always do," he said. "So we will find a way forward.”

Rutte also reiterated his position, held since the start of the war, that U.S. operations in Iran are important for European and Middle East security.

"A nuclear Iran would potentially have been a direct threat to the future of Israel, but again, to the whole Middle East and to Europe,” he said.

In their joint statement on March 19, the handful of European countries and Japan said they are ready to help and encouraged others to act.

"We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning," they said, while pledging to take further steps to stabilize energy markets, including "working with certain producing nations to increase output."

"Maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries," they wrote. "We call on all states to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security."

New Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement published by state media this week that Tehran would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and continue attacks across the region.
<h2>Iran Steps Up Attacks</h2>
Iran intensified attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf on March 19, hitting a Saudi refinery, Qatari LNG facilities, and two Kuwaiti oil refineries, sending oil prices soaring.

The strikes followed Israel’s March 18 attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which is part of the world’s largest natural gas reserve. The Israeli strike prompted Iran to pledge revenge, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warning that it would treat strategic energy infrastructure across the Gulf as "direct and legitimate targets."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also condemned the Israeli attack, warning of “uncontrollable consequences” that “could engulf the entire world.”

Iran followed through on those threats, striking Saudi Arabia’s Samref refinery in Yanbu and igniting fires at major Kuwaiti oil facilities, while also hitting LNG infrastructure in Qatar and targeting vessels across the Gulf, with risks appearing to rise for both energy supply and maritime traffic.

The fallout has begun to ripple through global gas markets, with QatarEnergy saying that it may be forced to declare <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/iran-attack-on-bahrain-refinery-forces-bapco-to-declare-force-majeure-5996017">force majeure</a> on long-term LNG contracts for up to five years after the attacks knocked out roughly 17 percent of its export capacity.

The outages—expected to sideline about 12.8 million metric tons per year—threaten supplies to Europe and Asia, including Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China, and could deepen competition for LNG shipments as markets tighten.

European gas prices <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/european-gas-prices-jump-40-percent-after-strikes-on-giant-south-pars-gas-field-6000944">surged</a> by as much as 40 percent intraday following the strikes on South Pars before easing, while analysts <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/hormuz-crisis-raises-risk-of-largest-energy-shock-in-decades-6000409">warned</a> that disruptions related to the conflict could amplify the shock to global energy markets.

Iran has also signaled that it may seek to formalize its control over the Strait of Hormuz, with lawmakers considering a proposal to impose transit fees on vessels using the waterway and senior officials <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/iran-calls-for-new-hormuz-transit-regime-after-war-6000448">floating</a> a “new mechanism” that could restrict access for countries that have been hostile to Tehran or acted against its interests.

<em>Reuters contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/european-countries-and-japan-to-help-secure-strait-of-hormuz-to-stabilize-energy-markets-6001022">The Epoch Times</a></em>

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