London, March 24, 2026 (Lusa) – Portugal has joined a group of 30 countries ready to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran since the start of the war, the foreign ministry has confirmed. Portugal signed a text in which 30 countries said they were ready to "contribute to the efforts to ensure safe passage" through the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement, initially published by the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on Thursday, said that "maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries" and calls on all states to respect international law and defend the "fundamental principles of global prosperity and security".
According to the British government website, besides Portugal, the declaration was also signed by Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Panama and North Macedonia, joining Australia, Canada, South Korea, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Czechia, Romania, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. In the statement, these countries condemn Iran’s recent attacks on commercial ships, oil and gas energy infrastructure and the "de facto closure" of the Strait of Hormuz. They demand that Tehran "immediately stop its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait to commercial navigation".
The signatory countries stressed that "interference with international navigation and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security" and called for an "immediate and comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities".
The declaration was published on 19 March, hours after Qatar's state-owned energy company confirmed "considerable damage" to the Ras Laffan gas complex caused by Iranian missile attacks.
Iran's retaliatory attacks also affected oil and natural gas facilities in other neighbouring Arab countries and blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route. The Iranian attacks are in retaliation for the military operation launched on 28 February by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic, which resulted in the deaths of several leaders and thousands of civilians.
The conflict has led to oil prices rising to around $110, after a record $119 a week ago, well above the $72 it was trading at before the war, fuelling fears of difficulties similar to the 1973 and 1979 oil crises.
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