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

A United Nations shipping agency council has formally urged member states to reject Iran's attempts to assert sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows Tehran's establishment of a new body intended to control vessel traffic through the critical global energy chokepoint.

IMO Council Condemns Iranian Actions

The 40-member governing council of the London-based International Maritime Organization (IMO) "strongly condemned" Iran's decision to create an entity to control traffic, according to the text of a non-binding decision reported by Reuters. The IMO is the UN body responsible for the safety and security of international shipping.

The council called upon its 176 member states not to recognize Iran's sovereignty claims or any decisions aimed at "closing, obstructing, hampering or otherwise interfering with international navigation and the right of transit passage." The decision was reached during a session where the protection of vital shipping lanes was a key topic of discussion.

Iran's Position

Iran recently created the "Persian Gulf ​Strait Authority," which declared in a June advisory that vessels would need a "valid passage permit" to transit the waterway. In its response to the IMO, Iran's delegation rejected what it called "selective, politically motivated and legally unfounded allegations."

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Tehran's representatives argued that since Iran is not a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it is "not bound by the treaty-based regime." The delegation stated that its measures are for maritime safety and security and do "not constitute the closure of the strait."

Context of Heightened Tensions

The diplomatic dispute unfolds against a backdrop of increased military activity in the region. Recent hostilities include U.S. airstrikes and attacks on commercial ships, which Washington has attributed to Tehran.

For investors and global markets, any potential disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is a significant risk. The waterway is a crucial chokepoint for a substantial portion of the world's oil supplies, and any interference with the freedom of navigation could have immediate impacts on energy prices and shipping costs.