President Nicusor Dan announced on Friday that Romania joins the statement of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

''We have decided to join the statement of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan on ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a fundamental principle of international law. Romania's joining this initiative takes place against the backdrop of the serious implications that the closure of the Strait has on global energy markets, as well as on the world economy. The effects are also felt in Romania, especially in terms of fuel prices. In this sense, we are ready to participate in the efforts of the international community that will lead to maintaining prices at a bearable level for the population,' Nicusor Dan wrote on Facebook.

He said that Romania maintains its clear decision not to get involved in the conflict in the Middle East. 'We are working together with international partners for de-escalation,' the head of state said.

In the joint statement, the signatory countries say that they are ready to 'We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.''

''We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces,' the statement said.

The signatories expressed 'our deep concern about the escalating conflict''. ''We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817,' the statement said, recalling that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

'The effects of Iran's actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable,' the signatories warn.

The signatory countries emphasize that ''such interference with international shipping and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security. In this regard, we call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.''

'We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,' the signatories write, welcoming the International Energy Agency's decision to authorize a coordinated release of strategic oil reserves. 'We will also take other steps to stabilize energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output,' the signatories say in the joint statement. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)