The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has called on member states to reject Iran’s assertion of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and its unilateral establishment of a body to control international traffic through the waterway.
The UN shipping agency’s governing council issued the statement, framing Tehran’s move as an attempt to impose exclusive authority over a critical global chokepoint that facilitates roughly a fifth of the world’s oil trade.
The diplomatic pushback arrives as shipping risk in the region remains elevated.
Iran’s joint military command recently warned international operators that tankers must adhere to Tehran-approved routes or face a "forceful response," a directive that has kept insurance premiums high and routing decisions complex for energy traders.
The IMO’s intervention seeks to reinforce international law, asserting that the strait remains an international transit zone rather than a sovereign Iranian territory.
This development intensifies the ongoing dispute between Washington and Tehran over regional security coordination.