UN Maritime Agency Urges Rejection of Iran's Control Over Strait of Hormuz

The governing council of the United Nations' top shipping agency has formally urged member countries to reject Iran's efforts to impose sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. In a decision reached Friday, the body condemned Tehran's unilateral move to create an entity to control maritime traffic through the vital waterway, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.

IMO Council Condemns Iranian Actions

The 40-member governing council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) "strongly condemned" Iran's decision to establish the "Persian Gulf ​Strait Authority," according to the text of the non-binding decision. The council called on its 176 member states not to recognize Iran's sovereignty claims or its assertions of jurisdiction in and around the strait.

The decision specifically asks countries to reject any Iranian measures aimed at "closing, obstructing, hampering or otherwise interfering with international navigation and the right of transit passage." The condemnation follows an advisory from Iran's new authority in June stating that no vessel would be permitted to pass through the waterway "without a valid passage permit."

Tehran Defends Position

Iran, which does not hold a seat on the council, rejected the allegations as "selective, politically motivated and legally unfounded," according to its delegation at the IMO. 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."

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Iran's delegation stated that its measures are intended to "uphold maritime safety and security" and safeguard its own sovereignty and security interests. Tehran insisted that its actions "do not constitute the closure of the strait."

Market Implications and Tensions

The diplomatic clash comes amid heightened tensions in the region, including recent U.S. military airstrikes and attacks on commercial vessels that Washington has attributed to Tehran. These events have renewed investor concerns about the security of global oil supplies and the stability of international shipping routes.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, with a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passing through it daily. Any potential disruption to the free passage of vessels could have significant implications for energy prices and the global economy.