UN Maritime Agency Urges Nations to Reject Iran's Control Over Strait of Hormuz

The governing council of the UN's top shipping agency has called on member states to reject Iran's efforts to impose sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The move is a direct response to Tehran's recent establishment of a body intended to control vessel traffic through the critical global chokepoint.

IMO Council Condemns Iranian Actions

In a non-binding decision, the 40-member governing council of the London-based International Maritime Organization (IMO) "strongly condemned" Iran's move, according to the text agreed upon Friday. The decision was reached after a session where Gulf countries, the United States, and Iran clashed over the waterway's future.

The council called upon its 176 member states not to recognize Iran’s claim of sovereignty over the strait. It also urged them to reject any Iranian decisions aimed at "closing, obstructing, hampering or otherwise interfering with international navigation and the right of transit passage."

Tehran Defends New Maritime Authority

The diplomatic rebuke follows a June advisory from Iran's newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority. The advisory stated that no vessel would be permitted to pass through the waterway "without a valid passage permit" issued by the body.

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Iran, which does not hold a seat on the council, rejected the allegations as "politically motivated and legally unfounded," according to its IMO delegation. Tehran argued that it is not a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is therefore "not bound by the treaty-based regime" that governs international straits.

Iran's delegation stated its measures are meant to "uphold maritime safety and security" and do not constitute a closure of the strait.

Context for Markets

This development at the UN agency occurs amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Recent hostilities in the region, including U.S. military airstrikes following attacks on ships that Washington blamed on Tehran, have raised concerns for global shipping and energy markets.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil transit routes. Any potential disruption to the free flow of navigation could have significant implications for global oil supplies and prices, adding a layer of uncertainty for investors and commodity traders.