Six major international powers, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan, said Thursday (March 19, 2026) they were ready "to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz". The situation has left around 20,000 seafarers stranded on approximately 3,200 vessels west of the strait, according to the International Maritime Organization. "We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict," the allies' joint statement said. "We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping," it added. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged other world powers, and NATO, to help reopen the Hormuz Strait to commercial shipping, but they have rebuffed his call in the short-term while insisting they were open to discussions and planning.

Source: The Hindu March 20, 2026 14:06 UTC