US and Israel are warned against launching fresh strikes on Iran

Eight countries warned Washington and Jerusalem against renewing military strikes on Iran. Their concern is that another attack would not remain limited to Iran. It could widen the regional war and intensify pressure on already disrupted energy and shipping routes.

The group included Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, France, the UK, Germany and Italy. Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, said military intervention was not a solution. Ministers also demanded an end to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Their warning reflects economic as well as security fears. Jean-Noël Barrot said another Iran-US war would worsen rising oil prices. Ed Miliband urged diplomacy. The ministers want de-escalation, freedom of navigation and negotiations instead of a new military escalation.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It is a major route for ships carrying oil and other goods. Because traffic is concentrated there, disruption can quickly affect distant economies and consumers.

In the article, Iranian ships and drones are blockading the strait. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called reopening Hormuz vital for European economies. He said dialogue was needed to restore freedom of navigation, rather than relying only on military action.

The ministers’ concern is both immediate and wider. A dangerous or closed passage can delay vessels, raise transport risks and push energy costs higher. Those pressures can reach petrol stations, supermarkets and industries that depend on fuel, fertiliser or reliable shipping.

About 20% of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. That estimate is established energy-market knowledge rather than a figure stated in the article. It shows why the passage is treated as a global energy chokepoint.

The article reports that the strait is currently blockaded by Iranian ships and drones. It also says ministers want it reopened because Hormuz is vital to their economies. When such a large share of oil depends on one route, uncertainty can affect prices even before supplies are physically exhausted.

The practical effect depends on how long disruption lasts and whether alternative routes can compensate. A prolonged closure would create greater pressure than a short delay. The ministers therefore connect navigation, diplomacy and economic security, while warning that renewed conflict could intensify the danger.

New strikes on Iran could threaten oil production, export facilities and nearby shipping routes. Even the risk of disruption can make traders expect tighter supplies. That expectation often lifts oil prices, while insurers and carriers may charge more for voyages through dangerous waters.

The article gives a direct example. Oil prices had already reached their highest level since May. Jean-Noël Barrot warned that another Iran-US war would worsen the increase. Attacks on shipping routes can also delay deliveries and raise the cost of moving energy and other goods.

Those costs spread through the economy. More expensive fuel raises expenses for cars, trucks, factories and farms. Higher transport and fertiliser costs can make food production and distribution more expensive. Germany’s Johann Wadephul said people were already feeling attacks on shipping routes at the petrol pump and supermarket.

The Houthis are a Yemeni armed movement involved in the wider Middle Eastern conflict. The article does not provide their full history or political structure. It reports that ministers demanded an end to Houthi assaults on Saudi Arabia and criticised attacks affecting regional security and trade.

The article specifically describes drone and missile attacks on Saudi airports and energy installations. It also says the Houthis and Iran were accused of blackmailing world trade and strangling global supplies of energy and fertiliser. European countries have sent air-force protection to Saudi Arabia.

These attacks connect Yemen’s conflict with wider regional risks. Strikes on airports, energy sites and shipping routes can disrupt movement and supplies beyond Yemen. The ministers therefore discussed Yemen alongside Iran and Hormuz. They called for de-escalation, diplomacy and freedom of navigation rather than a purely military solution.

If Hormuz becomes unsafe, ships can in principle take longer routes around the Arabian Peninsula, including routes toward the Red Sea or around the Cape of Good Hope. Some oil can also move through land pipelines and alternative export terminals. These options depend on cargo type, infrastructure and available capacity.

The article does not name alternative routes. It says only that Iranian ships and drones are blocking Hormuz and that ministers want freedom of navigation restored. That emphasis reflects the route’s importance: rerouting can add distance, fuel use, time and risk to each voyage.

Alternatives therefore reduce, but do not eliminate, the disruption. Pipelines cannot carry every shipment, and longer sea routes cannot fully replace normal traffic quickly. If danger persists, carriers may delay voyages or charge more. Those extra costs can feed into oil prices, fuel bills and the prices of transported goods.

A shipping chokepoint concentrates large amounts of trade in a narrow passage. If that passage is blocked or dangerous, ships cannot move normally. The result can be delayed deliveries, higher insurance and transport costs, and uncertainty about future supplies.

Hormuz illustrates the mechanism in the article. Iranian ships and drones are blocking the strait, while attacks on other shipping routes are also affecting trade. Germany’s Johann Wadephul said people were feeling these effects at petrol pumps and supermarkets. He also warned of pressure on energy and fertiliser supplies.

The disruption spreads because economies depend on connected supply chains. Fuel powers transport and production. Fertiliser supports agriculture. When either becomes more expensive or harder to obtain, businesses may pass costs to consumers. That is why ministers from Europe and the Middle East treated navigation as an economic and security issue, not only a regional military matter.