WASHINGTON — A senior official Emirati official told Al-Monitor this week that “no one should be closing the Strait of Hormuz,” as regional tensions from the US-Israeli war with Iran continue disrupting global energy flows.
Abdulla Balalaa, the United Arab Emirates' assistant minister of foreign affairs for energy and sustainability, made the remarks in an interview on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington, where Gulf officials have been grappling with the fallout from the war launched by Israel and the United States on Feb. 28.
“The Strait of Hormuz should be open for everyone,” Balalaa told Al-Monitor. “I don’t think Iran or any other state is in a position to close international waters that affect not only this region, but globally.” Balalaa stressed that securing open traffic at Hormuz should be part of any incoming deal between the Trump administration and Iran.
“The ripple effect of closing the Strait of Hormuz is witnessed globally. Look at the oil prices. It also damages and affects international agendas—I’m talking about food security. A third of fertilizers passes through this, along with helium, oil, gas, and trade,” he added.
