International diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran’s de facto closure and global economic fallout
Consensus Summary
International leaders from over 40 countries, including Australia and the UK, convened an emergency virtual meeting on February 28 to address Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route carrying 20 percent of the world’s crude oil. The closure has led to severe disruptions, with only 25 vessels passing through in 24 hours compared to the usual 150, trapping 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships. The UK’s Yvette Cooper accused Iran of ‘holding the global economy hostage,’ while Australia’s Penny Wong condemned Iran’s ‘weaponisation’ of the strait, causing spiralling fuel and food prices worldwide. The meeting focused on diplomatic and civilian solutions, including potential sanctions, humanitarian corridors for fertiliser, and coordination with the International Maritime Organisation to release trapped vessels. Follow-up military planning sessions were scheduled in the UK, though no offensive action was proposed. The Philippines secured safe passage for its ships, while the UN warned the conflict risks escalating into a wider war with catastrophic economic consequences. Meanwhile, Donald Trump dismissed US involvement in securing the strait, urging allies to ‘take it’ themselves, while France proposed an international escort mission post-conflict. Australia confirmed limited military support to Gulf partners, including SAS operatives on standby, but denied deploying troops to Iran. Contradictions between sources include specific details on Iran’s protocol with Oman, the phrasing of accusations against Iran, and the extent of Australia’s military deployments.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Ministers from more than 40 countries, including Australia’s Penny Wong and the UK’s Yvette Cooper, met virtually on February 28 to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz
- Iran has virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic since the war broke out, impacting global oil, gas, and fertiliser supplies
- The Strait of Hormuz normally sees about 150 vessels per day, but only 25 vessels passed through in the 24 hours leading up to the February 28 meeting
- Around 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships are currently trapped in the Strait of Hormuz
- The UK’s Ministry of Defence confirmed a follow-up meeting of military planners from several countries would take place in the UK the following week to discuss ‘diplomatic options to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe for navigation’
- The Philippines secured an assurance from Iran’s foreign minister that its ships, fuel, and seafarers would be allowed safe passage through the strait
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on February 28 that the Middle East conflict risks spiralling into a wider war with devastating global economic impacts
- Australia’s Penny Wong accused Iran of ‘deliberately inflicting economic pain’ on communities, including in the Indo-Pacific
- The meeting focused on diplomatic and civilian initiatives to ensure the strait’s accessibility and safety, with no offensive military action proposed by Australia
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated Iran was ‘holding the world’s economy hostage’ and accused Iran of ‘hijacking an international shipping route’
- Yvette Cooper mentioned ‘unsustainable spikes in oil and food prices hitting households and businesses globally’
- Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani called for a ‘humanitarian corridor’ for fertiliser and essentials through the strait to prevent a food disaster in Africa
- French President Emmanuel Macron called reopening the strait through military force ‘unrealistic’ and proposed an international escort mission for tankers post-conflict
- Iran was drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres explicitly called for an immediate halt to US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on neighbours
- Drones were intercepted across the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, with strikes reported in Iran’s Karaj and Tehran, and Israel, during the same period
- China, Europe, and Saudi Arabia were reported to be holding separate international talks on the war, with Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
- Donald Trump told allies in a national address that the Strait of Hormuz would ‘open up naturally’ once the conflict ended, urging them to ‘build up some delayed courage’
- Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed the meeting was ‘really productive’ and focused on ‘civil and diplomatic options’
- Wells did not deny reports of a deployment of around 90 Australian Special Air Services operatives to the Middle East two weeks prior, stating they were ‘on standby’ and ‘not involved in offensive action’
- Australia’s ADF personnel, including an E-7A Wedgetail reconnaissance plane, were deployed to the UAE early in the war to ‘help in defence of our Gulf partners’
- Ministers reaffirmed commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which underscores the right of merchant vessels to navigate critical maritime routes under international law
- Wells stated Australia was ‘not deploying troops on the ground in Iran’ and reiterated support for de-escalation
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports Iran was drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this detail
- ABC states the UK’s Yvette Cooper explicitly called Iran’s actions ‘hijacking an international shipping route,’ while NEWSCOMAU does not include this phrasing
- NEWSCOMAU quotes Trump saying the strait would ‘open up naturally’ after the conflict, but ABC does not reference this specific statement
- ABC reports drones were intercepted across the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and strikes in Iran and Israel occurred during the same period, while NEWSCOMAU does not detail these specific drone incidents
- NEWSCOMAU confirms a deployment of around 90 Australian SAS operatives to the Middle East, but ABC does not mention this specific number or deployment
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