The G7 foreign ministers urged on Friday to cease attacks against civilians in the war and exhorted Iran to immediately restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a joint communiqué issued on behalf of all G7 members, including the United States, they called for the "immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure," reported CNN and CBS news chains and learned the Argentine News Agency. "There can be no justification for deliberately attacking civilians in situations of armed conflict, as well as for attacking diplomatic facilities," the communiqué stated, following the meeting in France of the foreign ministers of the world's leading industrialized nations. One of the main topics of the meeting was Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. "We reiterate the absolute need to permanently restore safe and toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," the communiqué said. At their meeting, the ministers focused on efforts to mitigate global economic crises, such as disruptions in economic, energy, fertilizer, and commercial supply chains, which have a direct impact on our citizens, they said. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, threatened to attack Iran's energy infrastructure if the country does not reopen the strait; however, on Thursday, he again postponed his own self-imposed deadline until April 6. Allies have expressed their willingness to contribute to efforts to ensure the strait remains open, but have insisted that a de-escalation must first occur. It has been reported that Iran has attempted to pass legislation to impose tolls on ships passing through the waterway. "We want to stress the importance of minimizing the impact of the conflict on regional partners and civilian populations, as well as on critical infrastructure, and the need to coordinate humanitarian efforts," the communiqué states. "We focused on the value of diverse alliances, coordination, and support for initiatives, including those aimed at mitigating global economic shocks—such as disruptions in economic, energy, commercial, and fertilizer supply chains—which have a direct impact on our citizens," the text adds.
