Britain accused Iran on Thursday of holding the world’s economy hostage as diplomats from more than 40 countries held talks on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” she said at the start of the meeting.
Cooper said “unsustainable” spikes in oil and food prices were “hitting households and businesses in every corner of the world.”.
It said a murky operation under which Iran vets who can pass continues to operate as Tehran maintains its chokehold over the key waterway.
No country appears willing to try and open the strait by force while fighting rages and Iran can target vessels with anti-ship missiles, drones, attack craft and mines.
The urgency of stronger continental defenses has been reinforced by Trump’s renewed suggestion that the U.S. could leave NATO.
Associated Press writers David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report. »