UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Japan Prepare to Join Safe Hormuz Passage Efforts

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan issued a joint statement prepared to join 'appropriate efforts' to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and condemned Iranian attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure. The EU also called on all parties for a moratorium on striking critical infrastructure, as growing concerns mount about the Iran war's impact on the global economy. The EU's 27 leaders collectively called for de-escalation. The Hormuz strait remains effectively closed to US, Israeli, and Western-allied vessels under Iran's selective blockade — though Iran has allowed China- and India-flagged vessels to transit. The international coalition for maritime safety represents the broadest multilateral response to the strait closure since the conflict began, though it falls short of NATO Article 5 trigger or a military escort mission.