Ankara, April 17 (QNA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed Friday the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation based on established rules and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial vessels.

In his opening address at the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Erdogan emphasized the need to effectively capitalize on the opportunity presented by the ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran to establish lasting peace.

He welcomed this step, which he believes should be used to establish lasting peace in the region.

He stressed the need to restrict the Gulf states' access to international waters, noting that the shortest path to peace is through constructive dialogue and diplomacy, despite the fact that the war has accelerated efforts to find alternative routes for transporting energy resources from neighboring regions to international markets.

Iran announced hours earlier the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to navigation, a move welcomed by Washington and considered a step towards easing the escalating tensions in the region. (QNA)