Finland does not intend to take part in military operations in the Persian Gulf, according to Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP).
She made the comments amid the growing conflict in the Middle East, after Israel and the US attacked Iran at the end of last month.
The minister told Yle by phone from Geneva that Finland has significant defense capability needs of its own, as well as obligations to implement Nato's plans to stabilise the Baltic Sea region.
At the same time, Valtonen emphasised that it is out of the question that Nato countries would take part in the war with Iran alongside the United States.
The minister said that the effects of rising oil prices due to Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz — which normally sees the passage of around 20 percent of the world's oil — is already being felt in Finland, "especially at the petrol pump".
"This is a bad thing for us Finns, but equally bad for the whole world," Valtonen said.
"We hope that military operations will end as soon as possible. And in particular, violence against civilians or attacks and strikes against civilian infrastructure should end immediately," Valtonen said, suggesting that the parties involved in the Middle East conflict should return to the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, on Friday Finnish President Alexander Stubb announced on social site X that Finland has signed a joint statement alongside nearly 20 other countries condemning Iran's attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and on oil and gas installations.
Signatories of the statement emphasised that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, and expressed a readiness to contribute to efforts to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
"We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817," the statement read.