Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan issued a joint statement on 19 March 2026 condemning attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels and civilian energy infrastructure, and decrying the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The text urges immediate compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and reaffirms freedom of navigation as a basic rule of international law. (gov.uk)
Resolution 2817, adopted by the Security Council on 11 March, condemns Iran’s attacks, demands that they cease at once and reaffirms navigational rights and freedoms for merchant shipping. It also states that any attempt to close or obstruct the Strait of Hormuz-or threaten maritime security in the Bab al‑Mandab-constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security, and recognises the right of states, in line with international law, to defend their vessels from attack. (documents.un.org)
In plain terms, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea sets out ‘transit passage’ through straits used for international navigation, allowing continuous and expeditious movement that should not be impeded. This is the legal frame the leaders invoke when stressing lawful, unobstructed passage through the Strait of Hormuz. (un.org)
Beyond legal characterisation, the leaders call for a comprehensive moratorium on attacks against civilian infrastructure, explicitly including oil and gas installations, and underline that interference with international shipping and disruption of energy supply chains threaten international peace and security. (gov.uk)
The statement signals readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage and notes that nations are engaged in preparatory planning. While it does not specify operational design or timelines, it creates a basis for coordinated maritime security measures should governments decide they are necessary. (gov.uk)
The communiqué has drawn wider support. According to the official UK record, Canada joined on 19 March; the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Romania on 20 March; and Australia and the United Arab Emirates on 21 March. (gov.uk)
On energy security, leaders welcomed the International Energy Agency’s 11 March decision to authorise a record collective release of 400 million barrels from emergency reserves, and said they would work with certain producing nations to increase output to stabilise markets. (iea.org)
They also committed to support the most affected nations through the United Nations and the international financial institutions, signalling an intent to pair maritime security efforts with economic stabilisation tools for countries hit hardest by disrupted trade and higher import costs. (gov.uk)
Policy Wire analysis: for shipowners, charterers and insurers, the combination of Resolution 2817 and UNCLOS provides a clear legal basis for maintaining commercial traffic, subject to navigational warnings and corporate risk thresholds. Temporary operating adjustments can be expected around any state‑led ‘safe passage’ measures, including routing, speed and reporting protocols.
Policy Wire analysis: for energy teams, the IEA action offers short‑term flexibility but hinges on release pacing and refinery access. The Agency notes flows through Hormuz have fallen sharply since late February, informing how stockdraws are sequenced and whether further measures are needed to protect consumers. (iea.org)
What to watch next: the Security Council remains actively seized of the matter, so further UN steps are possible alongside national announcements detailing any safe‑passage arrangements, their geographic scope and how they will interface with industry. (documents.un.org)