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[EU and GCC Joint Statement: Sovereignty Claims in the Strait of Hormuz "Illegal"] 1. The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a joint statement on Saturday (July 18), strongly opposing any country's claims to sovereignty or control over the Strait of Hormuz, calling such actions "illegal," and opposing the imposition of permits or passage fees on international shipping. 2. The statement pointed out: "No bilateral arrangement, understanding, or memorandum between states may illegally regulate or restrict the right to transit through international straits." According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ships of all states have the right to transit through straits "and must not be subject to the control or authorization of any state." 3. The EU and the GCC condemned Iran's attacks on transit merchant ships and the sovereign territories of several regional states "in the strongest terms." The statement said these attacks endangered the lives of civilians and seafarers, violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, and "cannot be justified under any circumstances." 4. Both sides called on Iran to "immediately and unconditionally cease all attacks and all forms of interference with maritime navigation," and to maintain unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz without any conditions, transit fees, or service charges. 5. The statement was released following the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation, co-chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Karas and Bahraini Foreign Minister Zayani. Both sides pledged to continue close coordination to uphold freedom of navigation and protect international shipping and the safety of seafarers. 6. The situation in the Middle East remains tense, with the US and Iran launching attacks against each other. Despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding in June, brokered by Pakistan, aimed at ending the war, the military conflict continues to escalate.