UN warning on Hormuz

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke at a UN Security Council session on the protection and security of waterways.

In his speech, stating that sea lanes are the arteries of global trade and that these arteries are currently under pressure, Guterres said, "Geopolitical tensions are spilling over into the seas. Commercial vessels are being used as tools of pressure, and the most fundamental principles of the seas, such as the right of navigation and freedoms, are being restricted."

"The economic shock was felt instantly, and everyone is paying the price"

Expressing that threats at sea affect every port, every coastline, and every country, even those that are landlocked, Guterres said, "Since March, the disruption of transport through the Strait of Hormuz has directly affected global energy security, food supply, and trade. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. It carries approximately one-fifth of global oil trade, one-fifth of liquefied natural gas, and nearly one-third of internationally traded fertilizer. Safe and uninterrupted passage is an economic and humanitarian necessity. The economic shock was felt instantly, and everyone is paying the price. We have witnessed sharp fluctuations in energy and commodity markets, rising shipping and insurance costs, and the most severe supply chain disruptions since Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine," he said.

"It could trigger a global food crisis that could push millions of people into hunger and poverty"

Stating that the closure of the strait translates into empty fuel tanks, empty shelves, and empty plates, Guterres said, "The humanitarian cost is mounting. Delays and rising costs are slowing the delivery of life-saving aid to people who cannot afford to wait. This crisis also coincides with critical planting seasons. A prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global food crisis that could push millions of people, especially in Africa and South Asia, into hunger and poverty," he said.

Mentioning that more than 20 thousand seafarers are stranded at sea and more than 2 thousand commercial vessels are trapped in a web of risks and restrictions, Guterres said, "These people are not parties to any conflict. They are civilian workers who keep the world running. Their safety, well-being, and rights must be protected at all times and in all places," he said.

Call to parties to open the Strait of Hormuz

Guterres stated, "My call to the parties is this: Open the strait. Let the ships pass. Let there be no fees or discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe."