On March 19, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada issued a joint statement on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, strongly condemning Iran's recent attacks on unarmed merchant ships in the Gulf, as well as its attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas facilities, and its de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The statement expressed serious concerns about the escalation of the conflict, and called on Iran to immediately cease threats, laying mines, launching drone and missile attacks, and other acts hindering commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The statement emphasized that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that Iran's interference with international shipping and disruption of global energy supply chains constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The seven countries welcomed the International Energy Agency's approval of coordinated release of strategic oil reserves, and will work with some oil-producing countries to increase production to stabilize the energy market. At the same time, they are willing to participate in appropriate actions to ensure safe passage through the strait, and provide support to the most severely affected countries through the United Nations and international financial institutions. It is noteworthy that these seven countries replaced the United States in the original Group of Seven (G7). In other words, although the content was condemning Iran, the form was actually a response to the Trump administration's call for relevant countries to dispatch fleets to escort vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860160666935434/
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