Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri joined Foreign Ministers and bureaucrats from over 40 countries on a call hosted by Britain to discuss how the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for fuel shipments that borders Iran, might be reopened to ships, using diplomatic and political tools. The call comes as U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly indicated it would be up to those using the Strait to open it, after Tehran virtually sealed off the passage following the war with Israel and the U.S.

Mr Misri mentioned the importance of freedom of navigation and transit through international waterways, as per a statement from the Ministry of External Affiairs (MEA).

Iran-Israel war updates on April 2, 2026

“He emphasised the impact of the crisis on India’s energy security and the fact that India remains the only country to have lost mariners in attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf,” as he called for de-escalation and dialogue, according to the MEA.

The Foreign Secretary also underlined that the way out of the crisis consisted of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue among all concerned parties.

“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” said British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who hosted the call. There had been over 25 attacks on vessels in the Strait, and some 20,000 seafarers were trapped on approximately 2,000 vessels in the waterway, Ms. Cooper said at the start of the meeting.

The countries in Thursday’s (April 2, 2026) meeting backed the “immediate and unconditional opening” of the Strait the chair’s statement said. They also discussed a number of possible coordinated actions in this regard including the use of international diplomatic pressure, such as at the U.N. to send coordinated messages to Iran to permit “unimpended” passage via the Strait and to “comprehensively reject” the imposition of tolls.

Those on the call discussed coordination around economic pressure, including sanctions, to effect the opening of the Strait, as per the U.K.’s statement. The countries also discussed sharing information to increase operational and market confidence as well as working via the International Maritime Organisation, a UN agency, to secure the release of stranded sailors and ships, according the the statement.

India is among a handful of nations whose ships have been passing through the Strait following approval from Iran.

European countries have been pushing for dialogue while the U.S. has suggested that the Strait be pried open with force. Speaking to reporters in South Korea on Thursday (April 2, 2026), French President Emmanuel Macron said using force to open the Strait was “unrealistic” and that talking to Iran was the only viable way forward.

The European Union (E.U.) called for restraint and de-escalation as it backed diplomacy to re-open the Strait and without tolls, its chief diplomat Kaja Kallas wrote in an X post. Iran has begun rolling out a toll collection system to allow ships to pass.