Abu Dhabi, March 21 -- More than 20 countries on Saturday have strongly condemned what they described as the "de facto closure" of the Strait of Hormuz, expressing readiness to take appropriate steps to ensure safe passage through the critical maritime route amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

In a joint statement issued by leaders of over 20 nations, including the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, Lithuania, and Australia, the countries denounced the recent attacks carried out by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, as well as strikes on...