'Time to end the hostilities' - VdL urges US and Iran to resolve Hormuz crisis during Canberra meeting with Albanese

"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on all parties of the Middle East conflict to sit down at the negotiation table at a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Monday. “It is time to go to the negotiation table and to end the hostilities. The situation is critical for the energy supplies worldwide. We all feel the knock-on effects on gas and oil prices, our businesses and our societies,” she said. However, von der Leyen did not completely exclude the possibility of some European nations joining hands with the US in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran in response to the attacks on its territory. She described the passage closure as ‘unacceptable’ and urged Tehran to adhere to the ‘freedom of navigation’ principle. “The leaders in the European Union have been very clear that when the hostilities end, they could envisage an operation, a mission. But, of course, it is not for me to judge on their decision to provide the necessary capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz.” US President Donald Trump previously condemned his NATO allies for failing to help him secure the Strait of Hormuz after energy prices worldwide soared. Tehran has said the Strait "is open to friends and non-hostile countries, but closed to enemies and those who collaborate with them." Trump said via social media that he was postponing attacks on Iranian power plants for 'five days' after, on Saturday, he gave Iran a 48-hour 'deadline' to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or he would 'obliterate' the country's power plants. Meanwhile, the Australian Prime Minister dodged the question of whether Canberra considers a ‘maritime operation’ in the region, stressing that Australia is already contributing to the Gulf nations through military aid. “What Australia has provided is an E-7 aircraft to wedge tail to the region. That's providing support, particularly for the UAE, after their request,” he stated. “In addition to that, we're providing AMRAAMs to the UAE to provide that support. That is the request that we've had up to this point in time.” Tensions in the Middle East escalated after a joint US-Israeli operation against Iranian targets started on February 28 amid diplomatic talks aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear and missile programmes. Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and US military positions in the region, with explosions reported across Gulf countries. Iran confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes on the first day of the conflict. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since assumed leadership of the country."

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