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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the United Nations General Assembly that the kingdom stresses the importance of guaranteeing the protection of freedom of navigation in all international waterways. The minister highlighted the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as areas of particular concern amid regional instability. He called for the Strait of Hormuz to return to its pre-war status without the imposition of any fees on shipping.[[1]](https://www.wionews.com/world/global-community-absent-in-gulf-crisis-saudi-calls-for-freedom-of-navigation-pre-war-status-for-hormuz-1790445231721)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the kingdom rejects any party’s use of these vital passages as a tool for pressure, threat or harm to the interests of states. The remarks align with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, according to the minister’s address. His intervention forms part of broader Saudi diplomatic efforts to address maritime security challenges that have intensified in recent months.
A joint declaration issued after talks in Rome between Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani similarly called for the protection of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea. The two ministers opposed any unilateral action that could restrict maritime transit and acknowledged the role of the European Union’s EUNAVFOR Aspides naval mission. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the statement came amid renewed threats to Saudi and international vessels in the Red Sea.[[2]](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2652709/saudi-arabia)
The foreign minister’s address follows a series of incidents that have raised concerns over navigation in these chokepoints. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly condemned attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on commercial shipping and infrastructure, a position reiterated in multiple ministry statements throughout 2026. Such actions have contributed to heightened insurance costs and rerouting of vessels away from the Red Sea.
Earlier in 2026, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Abdulaziz al-Wasel, told the Security Council that security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz constitutes a collective priority. Al-Wasel urged Iran to abide by its international obligations and warned that threats to freedom of navigation endanger global energy markets and supply chains. The kingdom has consistently advocated keeping the strait open in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.[[3]](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2026/04/28/saudi-arabia-says-security-of-navigation-in-strait-of-hormuz-is-a-collective-priority-)
The latest remarks by Prince Faisal bin Farhan build on these positions as the UN General Assembly convenes against a backdrop of persistent regional tensions. Saudi Arabia has worked with international partners to support humanitarian access to Yemeni ports while maintaining inspections to prevent arms smuggling under relevant Security Council resolutions. The minister’s call underscores the direct link between secure waterways and global economic stability.
