UK, France, Japan Say Ready To Join Efforts To Open Hormuz, Stabilise Energy Markets

Last Updated:March 20, 2026, 00:46 IST

The UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan said they were ready to contribute to efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war.

Several European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, along with Japan, issued a joint statement on Thursday saying they were ready to join efforts to ensure safe passage through the ​Strait of Hormuz and would take steps to stabilise energy markets.

“We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, ​attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations, and the de facto ​closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," the statement read.

The countries expressed concern about the escalating conflict and called on Iran to immediately stop its drone and missile attacks, laying of mines in the waterway, and other attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.

“Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of ​the Sea. The effects of Iran’s actions will be felt by people in all ​parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable," it added.

European Gas Prices Surge

“We express our readiness to ​contribute to appropriate ​efforts to ensure safe ⁠passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning. We welcome the International Energy Agency ​decision to authorise a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves."

This came as European Union leaders met for a summit on Thursday in an attempt to find quick fixes to curb the ​jump in energy prices triggered by the Iran war. European gas prices have increased by more than 60% since the US-Israeli war on ​Iran began on February 28.

Iranian attacks have caused shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies, come to a virtual halt. Iran has also warned of “zero restraint" if its energy infrastructure was attacked, after an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field prompted a retaliatory strike on refineries in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The international benchmark Brent surged 10% to $119 a barrel before falling back to $112, while European gas prices rose 35%, after Iranian missiles hit Qatar’s huge Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas complex on Wednesday.

(with inputs from agencies)

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