Meloni: Over 30 nations participate in Hormuz coalition initiative

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said more than 30 countries are involved in efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that potential transit charges imposed by Iran could carry significant economic consequences.

Speaking in the Italian parliament, Meloni said a coalition of over 30 nations—established with support from the United Kingdom—is working to create conditions that would ensure maritime security and fully restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“We are already working on this issue with a coalition of countries created with the support of the United Kingdom and including more than 30 countries, in an effort to establish security conditions that would allow the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” she said.

Meloni added that enabling Iran to introduce additional tolls for passage through the strait could disrupt global trade flows and alter established shipping routes.

“For Italy and its European and Western partners, the priority is the full restoration of freedom of navigation to the level seen prior to February 28 (the start of the military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran), in order to normalise tensions in markets for energy resources, critical raw materials, fertilisers and other goods essential to our economy,” she said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev