The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, co-chairing a High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Brussels on 13 July 2026, jointly condemned Iran's attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirmed that freedom of navigation through the strait is guaranteed under international law. In a statement co-signed by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the two blocs rejected any unilateral assertion of sovereignty or control over the waterway, including any permit or toll regime imposed by Iran.
The joint statement, issued on 13 July 2026, marks the first formal EU-GCC position on the escalating maritime crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. The parties declared that the right of passage through the strait, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, cannot be suspended, impeded, or made conditional by any state. They condemned in the strongest terms Iranian attacks against commercial vessels and against the sovereign territory of Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan, calling them a violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.
The statement also rejected any bilateral arrangement or memorandum that would unlawfully govern or restrict passage through an international strait. The EU and GCC called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally cease all attacks and interference with maritime navigation, to keep the strait open without conditions, tolls, or fees, and to comply fully with international law and Security Council Resolution 2817. They expressed full solidarity with affected states and seafarers, and pledged continued close coordination to uphold freedom of navigation and advance regional peace and security through dialogue and diplomacy.
The declaration carries significant implications for stakeholders. EU and GCC member states, whose commercial shipping and energy supplies depend on the strait, gain a unified diplomatic front against Iranian actions. Iran faces intensified international pressure and potential further sanctions or naval deployments. International shipping companies and seafarers benefit from a reaffirmed legal guarantee of safe passage, though the risk of attacks remains until Iran complies. The International Maritime Organisation may see increased EU-GCC support for its role in maritime governance. The statement does not specify new enforcement measures, leaving the next steps to diplomatic channels and potential UN Security Council action.