Eight nations warn US against striking Iran, blocking Hormuz Strait
Foreign ministers from eight countries — UK, France, Germany, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Italy, and Egypt — met in Türkiye Friday to warn against further US strikes on Iran and any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting came after US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said Washington could "absolutely" strike Iran this weekend, noting President Trump is open to a deal but "very clear about what he wants."
French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the world cannot afford another regional escalation. Turkish Minister Hakan Fidan stated none of the eight approved military action against Iran, warning it would "create nothing but losers" and spike hydrocarbon prices. Italy's Antonio Tajani stressed de-escalation to guarantee freedom of navigation through Hormuz.
On Gaza, the Regional Four group (Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Italy, Egypt) called Israeli occupation the fundamental source of regional instability and demanded an end to destruction in Palestine. They also condemned Houthi militia escalation and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and Yemen's recognised government.
Why this matters for Nigeria: The Strait of Hormuz carries 20% of global oil supply. Any disruption spikes crude prices directly — Nigeria's budget benchmark and pump prices both rise when global oil surges. A US-Iran conflict could also disrupt shipping lanes affecting Nigerian imports and remittance flows from the Gulf.
Watch fuel price trends this week. If Hormuz tensions escalate, expect NNPC landing cost adjustments within 2-3 weeks. The diplomatic unity across NATO, Gulf, and Asian powers signals strong global resistance to further escalation — but Barrack's "this weekend" timeline keeps risk immediate.