The statement was delivered at the United Nations headquarters by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, highlighting growing international concern over stability in the region.
The Minister stressed that the international community is meeting “at a moment of growing concern over the security of international navigation,” noting that developments in the Middle East have highlighted “the significant risks associated with potential disruptions to these sea routes, with consequences extending far beyond the region.”
He stated that participating countries “reaffirm our full support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, which condemns Iran’s attacks against its neighboring countries.”
At the same time, he emphasized that “free navigation through the Strait is a cornerstone of global security and prosperity” and that “the rights and freedoms of navigation must not be threatened or unlawfully suspended.”
Particular emphasis was placed on the legal dimension, with an explicit reference rejecting “any attempt to unlawfully threaten or suspend the rights and freedoms of navigation, including the imposition of tolls, which would constitute a violation of international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” It was also underlined that Iranian actions “are already disrupting international shipping, increasing costs and causing turbulence in energy markets and critical supply chains far beyond the region.”
Al Zayani also reiterated support for the International Maritime Organization, noting that countries will continue to cooperate so that shipping “can resume normal operations as soon as conditions allow.”
In closing, he stated that the initiative “remains open for other United Nations member states to join,” encouraging further participation, and expressed his expectation for the upcoming high-level open debate of the Security Council, in which, as he said, “more than 80 countries” are expected to take part.
