EU, Gulf states call on Iran to unconditionally reopen Strait of Hormuz

CAIRO – 19 July 2026: The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Saturday called on Iran to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping without imposing any conditions or transit fees.

In a joint statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the GCC presidency strongly condemned Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the vital strait.

They also denounced the Iranian attacks on the sovereign territories of regional countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan.

The statement said the attacks had endangered the lives of civilians and seafarers, violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, and constituted "acts that cannot be justified under any circumstances."

Renewed fighting between the US and Iran has sharply reduced traffic through Hormuz, the world's most important oil and gas shipping route, with Iran repeatedly attacking commercial vessels over the past week.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that no oil or gas will be exported through the strait as long as US attacks continue.