Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the ongoing war against Iran has failed to achieve any of its stated initial objectives and has strengthened, rather than weakened, the “hardline” part of Iran’s governing authority. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he referred to the war launched by the United States and Israel in late February and said its record would be clear in history.

Eide said Norway had opposed the war from the beginning, describing it as neither a smart move nor compatible with international law. He added that many countries were now agreeing with Norway’s position. According to Eide, the conflict did not deliver its original goals despite the military campaign against Iran.

The foreign minister also highlighted disruption to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the strait had been open before the United States and Israel carried out their first round of attacks on February 28, after which Iran launched retaliatory strikes. Eide called it urgently necessary to end the war and restore the strait as close as possible to its previous condition of free navigation, saying he believed this could be done.