Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and US Secretary of State Rubio met
in Manama on June 25 and issued a joint statement saying reopening the Strait of
Hormuz is vital. The statement said navigation must be free, unconditional and
unrestricted, including transit rights under international law, and opposed any
tolls or attempts to control the strait; it welcomed Oman and the International
Maritime Organization’s plan to evacuate detained seafarers. It added that trade
and investment with Iran will depend on Tehran’s compliance with memoranda of
understanding and any final agreement and on Tehran creating the conditions for
economic engagement.
