Manila, July 24 (SANA)Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi on Friday reaffirmed the need to keep vital waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, open and safe for international shipping and trade.

In a statement posted on its X account, the Omani Foreign Ministry said Al Busaidi made the remarks during the ministerial meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, held in the Philippine capital, Manila.

Al Busaidi stressed that international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), remains a cornerstone of maritime security and the protection of freedom of navigation, which is essential for global trade, food security and energy security.

He reiterated Oman’s longstanding position that vital waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, must remain open and accessible to navigation, free from any measures that could hinder freedom of navigation or international trade.

Al Busaidi added that achieving this objective requires responsible cooperation among coastal states and all beneficiaries of maritime routes, citing cooperation in the Strait of Malacca–Singapore as a model that strengthens trust and reinforces shared responsibility.

He concluded by reaffirming Oman’s commitment to enhancing maritime cooperation with ASEAN member states and contributing to safe, stable and prosperous maritime cooperation.

As U.S. strikes on Iran intensified and Iran targeted several Gulf countries, Jordan and a number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, shipping disruptions in the region have widened. Ship-tracking data showed traffic through the strait had fallen to its lowest level in more than two months.F.J.