Metin Omerović

Thank you @YvetteCooperMP for convening a call of over 40 countries on the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is a global public good. Iran cannot be allowed to charge countries a bounty to let ships pass. International law doesn’t recognise pay-to-pass schemes. Today, we looked at diplomatic, economic, and security measures to restore safe passage, alongside working with the shipping industry. The EU’s Aspides naval mission has already assisted 1,700 ships in the Red Sea and must be scaled up. We cannot afford to lose another critical trade route. We support work by the UN on humanitarian corridors in the Strait to get food and fertilisers out. The EU has tools to track and facilitate transit that could help with that.