Key facts
- NATO foreign ministers will meet with counterparts from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
- The meeting aims to address tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- A Franco-British proposal for a multinational maritime mission is on the agenda.
- Iran has previously dismissed such proposals.
- A tanker was struck east of Oman's Limah, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards reportedly fired missiles at commercial ships.
NATO foreign ministers are scheduled to meet with their counterparts from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. The discussions will focus on the ongoing tensions and the stalemate surrounding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A key point of discussion will be a Franco-British proposal for a multinational maritime mission, which Iran has reportedly dismissed. The meeting is taking place on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Ankara.
Recent weeks have seen heightened tensions in the strategically vital waterway, even amidst an interim US-Iran peace deal. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported early Tuesday that a tanker was struck east of Oman's Limah. Axios also reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot highlighted the interconnectedness of regional stability, stating, "In the Gulf region, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates were directly targeted by Iranian attacks this spring. Their stability and ours are inextricably linked. This goes far beyond the Strait of Hormuz alone, however crucial it may be for Europe’s energy security."