Saudi Arabia says Strait of Hormuz must return to “pre-war status”

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal said in his speech at the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on the 26th that the Strait of Hormuz must be restored to the status quo before February 28 without any fees or restrictions.

In his speech, Faisal emphasized that Gulf security is inseparable from regional and even global security, and its stability is directly related to global energy security, international trade stability and the resilience of the global supply chain. He pointed out that maintaining the security of international shipping and the resilience of global supply chains is a shared responsibility that requires serious international cooperation. He called for the need to ensure freedom of navigation in all international waterways, the most important of which include the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

He said that Saudi Arabia opposes any party using these important waterways as a tool to pressure, threaten or harm the interests of other countries. At the same time, Saudi Arabia supports peaceful resolution of the crisis and supports efforts and initiatives that can help ease the situation.

The United States and Israel jointly launched a “pre-emptive” military strike against Iran on February 28, and Iran subsequently retaliated. Currently, navigation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to be blocked, seriously affecting Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports.