Britain-led int'l meeting demands "immediate and unconditio

LONDON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- A virtual meeting on the Strait of Hormuz hosted by Britain on Thursday called for "the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait," signaling increased diplomatic pressure and coordinated sanctions on Iran.

According to a statement issued after the meeting, representatives from over 40 countries, as well as international organisations including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the European Union, attended the meeting convened by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Highlighting the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, the statement described it as "one of the world's most critical maritime corridors" and "a primary route for global energy exports," saying its disruption "has immediate and far-reaching consequences for global supplies, prices and economic stability."

The summit discussed several areas of "possible collective, coordinated action," including increasing diplomatic pressure and imposing economic and political measures, such as sanctions, on Iran, and working jointly to help release the ships and sailors trapped in the Strait.

After attending the virtual meeting, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz requires de-escalation, stressing that military approaches alone will not work and that practical maritime solutions are needed to address the crisis.

According to IMO, around 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf. Since the outbreak of the conflict on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched large-scale military operations against Iran, the IMO has reported 21 attacks on commercial vessels. These incidents have resulted in the deaths of 10 seafarers, with several others seriously injured.