Strait of Hormuz Closed, GCC Urges UN Security Council to Protect Maritime Routes

The United Nations (ANTARA) - Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Mohammed Al Budaiwi has urged the UN Security Council to protect maritime routes and ensure the security of international navigation, amid the halt in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. “We call upon the Security Council to take full responsibility and implement all necessary measures to protect maritime routes and ensure the continuity of safe international navigation,” Al Budaiwi stated during a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday. He also called on the Council to include Gulf countries in any discussions or agreements with Iran, in order to strengthen regional security and prevent further escalation. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is a fallout from the latest conflict in the Middle East, triggered by a joint US-Israel attack on Iran on 28 February. In addition to launching retaliatory strikes, Iran now controls the main shipping route for oil and gas from Gulf countries to global markets. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has impacted oil exports and production in the region, triggering a rise in global energy prices.