Twenty-two countries have announced they’re prepared to contribute to efforts to secure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, condemning Iran’s shutdown of this crucial maritime route.

Axar.az reports that the statement called on Iran to halt its threats.

"We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," says the 22 countries.

"We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. 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, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817," the countries say in a joint statement.

“We call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations,” the countries add.

Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, Australia and United Arab Emirates on the Strait of Hormuz.