Australia seeks to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open

Istanbul (ANTARA) - Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said Canberra is strongly committed to ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open, as shipping disruptions impact the global fuel supply.

“We are strongly committed to ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open and the global fuel supply chain returns to normal,” Marles said, as quoted by Sky News Australia on Wednesday.

According to him, Australia is working with its partners on efforts in the strait and how Australia can make the best contribution.

“We need to see what happens during the remaining ceasefire period and how the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is, which will allow some efforts to begin,” Marles said.

Marles stated that Australia will only contribute to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the ceasefire between Iran, the US, and Israel is agreed to become permanent.

Iran has restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes, since being attacked by the US and Israel on 28 February.

In response, the US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports after negotiations in Pakistan aimed at ending the war failed to produce an agreement.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the blockade will be enforced “without discrimination against ships from all countries” that dock at Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, adding that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to ports other than Iran will not be affected.