Saudi Arabia Urges Unhindered Navigation in Key Gulf Waterways
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called on Saturday for guaranteed freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb strait during a speech at the UN General Assembly. He criticized the international community for failing to protect the security of the Gulf region.
Since the start of the "American-Israeli war on Iran" on February 28, Tehran has obstructed maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states rely on for crude oil exports. While navigation in Hormuz remains restricted, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have expanded their control over territory to include the entire western coast, encompassing the Bab el-Mandeb strait, another crucial waterway for maritime trade and a gateway to the Suez Canal.
Prince Faisal stated that protecting international navigation and global supply chains is a shared responsibility requiring serious international cooperation to prevent risks to the global economy. He emphasized the Kingdom's insistence on safeguarding freedom of navigation in all international waterways, particularly Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
The Saudi minister also condemned "brutal Iranian aggressions" against Saudi Arabia and Gulf states during the war, asserting Riyadh's right to protect its security and sovereignty. He criticized the international community's absence in confronting threats to international peace and security, stressing that the security of the Arabian Gulf is integral to regional and global security, and that the stability of this vital region is directly linked to global energy security and international trade continuity.
Iran responded to the war by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and regional countries, claiming to target U.S. bases and interests. The Saudi Foreign Minister stressed the importance of restoring the situation in the region, especially in Hormuz, to its pre-February 28 state, without imposing any fees on maritime navigation. He reiterated Riyadh's rejection of any party using these vital waterways as a tool for pressure, threats, or harming other nations' interests.
Tehran maintains that traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its pre-war levels and insists on its supervision of future navigation. It has also mentioned the possibility of imposing "service fees" on ships using the strait.
