Kallas says Hormuz diplomacy has produced ‘no results’
Her comments come after U.S. forces struck Iranian positions near Larak Island on Sunday.
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas stated on Tuesday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the strife in the Strait of Hormuz have yielded "no results at the moment." In remarks to reporters in Wicklow, Ireland, prior to a gathering of EU defense ministers, Kallas emphasized the importance of respecting "freedom of navigation," arguing that ships should not be charged for utilizing previously open routes.
She stressed that "for us it is important that there are no tolls, no fees, for these routes that have been open before." The ministers will also deliberate on safeguarding vital undersea infrastructure. Kallas' remarks follow U.S. forces' attack on Iranian positions near Larak Island on Sunday, with Washington claiming that Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel were preparing to deploy rockets carrying sea mines into the strait, following President Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. Navy had cleared mines from the international shipping route.
Despite Trump's assertion that 24 vessels passed through last week, commercial traffic remains at a fraction of its pre-war levels, with around a fifth of global oil and more than 20 percent of LNG trade typically traversing the strait. Iran and Oman are concurrently deliberating a temporary shipping corridor, possibly involving security fees, a proposal that directly contravenes Kallas' demand for unimpeded passage.
For Europe, the consequences are imminent, as the strait is a critical conduit for a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade, and any prolonged obstruction could trigger a surge in energy prices and inflation.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
