At the UN General Debate, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the Strait of Hormuz must return to its pre-February 28 status, without fees or restrictions. He also called for free navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Iran blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the first US strikes in February, disrupting a large share of the region’s oil and gas deliveries. Saudi Arabia cannot export its oil and petroleum products to world markets via Hormuz, though some exports go through pipelines and other routes. A Houthi-imposed “blockade” on Saudi ships has also made exports through Bab al-Mandab difficult or impossible.
The foreign minister said protecting international shipping and global supply chains was a shared responsibility of nations. He also met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York, according to Saudi channel Al Arabiya and Iranian media. The two countries drew closer through Chinese mediation in 2023, but the war is putting that rapprochement under severe strain.
