The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have urged the US and Iran to end the war through peaceful means, stressing maritime safety and security via the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports.

Welcoming the US-Iran ceasefire mediated by Pakistan, the two blocs in a joint statement have reaffirmed the “importance of upholding freedom of navigation in and overflight above straits used for international navigation, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the 1982 UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea)”.

The statement was released after the EU-ASEAN 25th Ministerial Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas represented the bloc, while Brunei Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah hosted the joint meeting on behalf of ASEAN.

They expressed “deep concern over any discriminatory or unilateral measures that may impede or obstruct vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, or any straits used for international navigation”, the statement says.

Read more here.