US, Gulf states demand Hormuz reopening, reject 'tolls and control'

The United States and Gulf Cooperation Council members meeting in Manama on Thursday issued a joint call for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting any attempts to impose tolls or assert control over the strategic waterway.

Ministerial statement

Following the ministerial talks in Bahrain's capital, the two sides said in a joint statement that "free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation" through the strait remains "essential to regional and global security," according to the document released after the meeting. The ministers specifically rejected "any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control" over the waterway, insisting that the right of transit passage under international law must be preserved without conditions.

Regional security

The statement said the ministers stressed the need to maintain "momentum and unity" as Washington pursues negotiations with Tehran toward a permanent end to hostilities, citing their "shared objective" of preventing Iran from "ever developing or otherwise acquiring a nuclear weapon." The ministers also welcomed an announcement by Oman and the International Maritime Organization regarding the launch of an evacuation plan for more than 11,000 seafarers currently stranded in the region.

The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The strategic waterway serves as a critical artery for global energy shipments, with its closure disrupting international maritime traffic.