Finland joined 19 countries in condemning Iran over attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, while ruling out participation in combat operations in the Gulf. A move that drew criticism online for hypocrisy in condemning Iran while, in their view, ignoring Western or Israeli actions, or for risking further escalation in the Gulf.
President Alexander Stubb said Finland signed a joint statement with partners including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and Canada. He wrote on X that the statement “condemns Iran’s recent attacks on commercial vessels and attempts to disrupt commercial shipping” and called for respect for international law.
The statement said Iran had targeted unarmed vessels and energy infrastructure and had in effect closed the strait. It warned that disruption to shipping posed a threat to global energy supply and international security. About one fifth of global oil shipments pass through the waterway.
Leaders said they “condemn in the strongest terms” the attacks and called on Iran to halt mining activity, missile strikes and drone operations. They urged compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 and stressed that freedom of navigation under international law must be upheld.
The countries said they stood ready to support efforts to secure safe passage through the strait. They also pledged support for states affected by the disruption through the United Nations and financial institutions.
The statement has drawn criticism online, where some users questioned why it focused on Iran without condemning actions by the United States and Israel. Critics argued that earlier strikes in the region had contributed to the escalation and said the response lacked consistency.
Finland, together with the signatory countries, has also been supporting Israel in its genocide in Gaza and has not participated in any action against Tel Aviv, even though the International Criminal Court is investigating Israel’s war crimes. EU countries were quick to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but have not condemned the US/Israeli illegal war on Iran and have been silent on numerous war crimes committed by the aggressors, including the bombing of a girls’ primary school which killed over 170 girls between the ages of 7 and 12.
Others said the conflict had moved towards military solutions, with limited space for diplomacy. Some warned that continued escalation risked widening the conflict and deepening its impact on global energy markets.
Questions were also raised about whether participation in the statement could lead to military involvement. Some posts suggested that support for maritime security efforts could draw countries into a wider conflict.
Finland’s position remains limited. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Helsinki would not take part in combat operations in the region. She told MTV News that participation in the joint statement “does not mean that Finland is taking part in military action”.
Valtonen recently traveled to Israel amid the ongoing genocide of Palestinians, and Finland has not cancelled its arms purchases from Israel.
“It is possible that appropriate means are considered to enable transit, but this is not about Finland participating in warfare,” she said, according to MTV.
Valtonen told Yle that Finland would not send military equipment to reopen the strait. She said any role would follow national procedures and depend on coordination with partner countries. She pointed to options such as staff officers rather than deployment of naval assets.
Officials said no requests for participation had been made and no operation had been launched. President Stubb said any Finnish role would remain minimal.
HT