The EU proposed transporting oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz following the example of the Ukrainian “grain corridor”

The European Commission has proposed a “Black Sea” model for unblocking oil and gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

This is reported by Reuters.

European Commission Vice President Kaia Kallas said that she had discussed with the UN the idea of ​​freeing up oil and gas transportation through the Strait of Hormuz by repeating the agreement that provides for the export of grain from Ukraine during the war.

“I had conversations with Antonio Guterres about whether it is also possible to have the same initiative as we had with the Black Sea Initiative,” Kallas said.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz against the backdrop of the US and Israel’s war against Iran, which has been going on for three weeks. Iranian forces have attacked ships in the narrow channel between Iran and Oman, blocking a fifth of the world’s oil supplies.

Kallas said that the closure of the strait is “really dangerous” for energy supplies to Asia, but is also a problem for fertilizer production.

“And if there is a shortage of fertilizers this year, there will also be a shortage of food next year,” Kallas said.

She added that the ministers would also discuss whether the mandate of the small EU naval mission in the Middle East, Aspides, which is currently focused on protecting ships in the Red Sea from Yemen’s Houthis, could be changed.

“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and so we are also discussing what we can do on the European side in this regard,” the official said.

USM previously reported that the US was in discussions with seven countries to patrol the Strait of Hormuz.