Australia will not assist the US in blocking the Strait of Hormuz

The Australian government is not considering joining the US in blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite made this statement.

In an interview with Sky News, he noted that the Australian government "is not considering joining the blockade." "We believe the best way to achieve lasting peace and ultimately ensure lower fuel prices for Australians is through negotiated settlement," the minister said.

According to him, Australia is "disappointed that the talks held on April 11 in Islamabad [between Iran and the US] did not yield results." "We would like these negotiations to resume. This is the best way to permanently open the strait, restore the international economy, resume fuel supplies, and lower prices for Australians," the minister explained.

Commenting on Monday on US President Donald Trump's statements about blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the US is acting alone on this issue. "We have not received any requests. We have not been invited to participate [in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz], and I do not expect that we will be," he said.

On April 12, US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News, claimed that some NATO countries intend to assist Washington on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz. Prior to this, he stated that the US Navy and other nations' forces are beginning to blockade the strait.

Source: TASS