More than 40 US allies on Thursday, April 2, discussed plans to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating to US President Donald Trump the deep international concern about the crisis around the waterway caused by the war with Iran, reports Bloomberg.
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The UK has convened online talks between countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as Australia and Canada, to consider diplomatic contacts with Tehran and potential sanctions if it does not agree to unblock the strait.
The virtual meeting appears intended to demonstrate the shared position of dozens of American allies that the United States should not " Meeting participants fear that the US President will end the operation in Iran without a plan to restore shipping and other countries will have to deal with the consequences.
The international community has made it clear that the US must include the Strait of Hormuz issue in peace talks with Iran, sources told Bloomberg.. However, the virtual meeting showed that the coalition of countries considers it necessary to begin preparations for restoring navigation in the strait without the participation of the United States.
Trump has criticized NATO allies for their reluctance to deploy their own military forces in this sea corridor - even threatening to withdraw the United States from the alliance. Thursday's meeting appeared to be an attempt by Britain, France and other European countries, which have recently come under harsh criticism from the American president, to demonstrate their willingness to join in resolving the Strait of Hormuz situation..
Military planners from the negotiating countries will meet next week to discuss how navies could be deployed to help patrol and clear the strait once hostilities cease.. The vast majority of coalition countries have no desire to try to unblock the waterway by force, as they do not consider this a viable solution and do not think that the crisis can be resolved without Iran's consent.
The meeting saw the United Nations as an important part of the diplomatic campaign to influence Iran, emphasizing cooperation with Gulf partners to restore freedom of navigation.
Iran's attempts to introduce a tariff collection system would set a negative precedent, according to Bloomberg interlocutors familiar with the discussions, and participants in the online meeting expressed broad support for free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Economic measures were also discussed, in particular sanctions, to prevent Iran from further profiting from blocking the strait..
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