The foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN) expressed serious concern over the renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran in the Middle East and called for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities, dpa reports.

"We are deeply concerned that these developments seriously undermine the ongoing efforts of key mediators and diminish the prospects for a peaceful settlement through dialogue and diplomacy," the statement said, published during their annual meeting in Manila.

"We called on all concerned parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that could further aggravate the situation," they added.

The ministers noted that the conflict has immediate and long-term consequences for the region's population, as well as for trade, energy, and food security.

They stressed the importance of ensuring "maritime safety and security, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight" and called for the restoration of the "safe, unhindered, and continuous transit passage of ships and aircraft through the Strait of Hormuz."

ASEAN consists of 11 countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.