DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

UN shipping agency urges countries to reject Iran's Strait of Hormuz control bid

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • The UN shipping agency urged countries to reject Iran's claim of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and its attempt to control international traffic.
  • The International Maritime Organization Council condemned Iran's decision to establish an entity controlling the strait and called on members not to recognize its claims or actions.
  • Iran rejected the allegations, stating its measures are intended to uphold maritime safety and security, and that it is not bound by UNCLOS.

The United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has called on member states to reject Iran's claims of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and its efforts to control international shipping through the vital waterway. The IMO Council "strongly condemned" Iran's move to "establish an entity purporting to control traffic through the strait."

Countries should reject efforts by Iran to impose sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran's "unilateral decision" to create a body to control traffic through the waterway.

— IMO CouncilThe UN shipping agency's governing council's agreement on Friday.

In a non-binding decision, the Council urged nations not to recognize "Iran's claim of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, its assertions of jurisdiction over the maritime zones of third states in and around the strait." It also called on members to reject any Iranian decisions aimed at "closing, obstructing, hampering or otherwise interfering with international navigation and the right of transit passage."

strongly condemned

— IMO CouncilDescribing Iran's decision to establish an entity purporting to control traffic through the strait.

This comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, following exchanges of hostilities including US airstrikes. These attacks have renewed concerns about global oil supplies and shipping, highlighting the fragility of an interim truce. Iran's recently created Persian Gulf Strait Authority had previously advised that no vessel could pass without a permit from the body.

Iran's claim of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, its assertions of jurisdiction over the maritime zones of third states in and around the strait, which violated the sovereignty, sovereign rights and exclusive jurisdiction of these states

— IMO CouncilWhat the Council called upon member states not to recognize.

Iran, which is not a party to the UNCLOS international maritime convention, rejected the allegations as "selective, politically motivated and legally unfounded." Tehran stated that its implemented measures are intended to uphold maritime safety and security, safeguard its sovereignty, and prevent support for acts of aggression.

closing, obstructing, hampering or otherwise interfering with international navigation and the right of transit passage

— IMO CouncilWhat the Council called upon member states not to recognize any Iranian decisions aimed at.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog