Representatives from nearly 36 countries are set to meet on Thursday in an effort to exert diplomatic and political pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States will not attend Thursday’s meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously stated that ensuring the safety of the waterway is not the United States’ responsibility.

Meanwhile, 35 countries, including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, signed a statement calling on Iran to cease its attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz and pledging to make appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Thursday’s meeting is seen as a first step, to be followed by “working-level meetings” of officials to finalize the details.