Eighty countries demand reopening of Strait of Hormuz
On September 24, 2026, a group of approximately 80 countries used a joint UN statement to demand the Strait of Hormuz's urgent reopening and condemn Iranian and Houthi actions affecting navigation, energy security and trade.
Inside Practice · OCTOBER 1, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
On September 24, 2026, a group of approximately 80 countries used a joint UN statement to demand the Strait of Hormuz's urgent reopening and condemn Iranian and Houthi actions affecting navigation, energy security and trade. The statement also warned that Houthi movement toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would increase risks to international shipping. Shipping, energy and finance clients should treat the two chokepoints as a connected risk system when reviewing charterparty clauses, insurance cover, sanctions exposure and force-majeure notices. The statement has political and evidentiary significance but is not itself an operative Security Council mandate, so legal rights still depend on contracts, domestic measures and applicable maritime law.