NATO states refuse to join naval blockade of Iran – Reuters
According to Ukrinform, Reuters reports this.
“Several European countries have said they are willing to help in the strait, but only once there is a durable end to hostilities and an agreement with Iran that their ships will not be attacked,” the report says.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he would not allow his country to be drawn into a war. “My decision has been very clearly that whatever the pressure, and there's been some considerable pressure, we're not getting dragged into the war,” Starmer said.
French President Emmanuel Macron took a similar stance, pledging to organize, together with the United Kingdom, an international conference to discuss alternative ways of restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. “Let me be very clear, this is about safeguarding shipping and supporting freedom of navigation once the conflict ends. Our shared aim here is a coordinated, independent, multi-national plan,” he said.
According to Reuters, the conference could take place as early as the end of this week and involve around 30 countries.
As Ukrinform reported, on Monday U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that its military vessels would be destroyed if they approached the American “blockade” of Iranian ports.
According to CNN, U.S. forces began a naval blockade of Iranian ports at 15:00 Kyiv time after talks mediated by Pakistan failed to produce satisfactory results.
Photo: www.nato.int
