UAE leads push as IMO raises alarm over Iran’s maritime actions

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has welcomed the decision of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) to adopt a resolution during its 111th session, proposed by the UAE and co-sponsored by several member states.

Through the resolution, member states expressed “grave concern” over Iran’s use of drones, missiles, and sea mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz, warning of a serious threat to safe navigation and seafarers. According to the resolution, Iran’s actions have resulted in the death of at least eleven seafarers and left more than 20,000 stranded, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The resolution also stresses the critical importance of maintaining freedom of navigation for commercial vessels in the Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman, as well as the right of transit passage through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. It encourages coordinated action by states to ensure the safe passage of commercial and merchant shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The IMO Secretary-General was praised for his commitment to maritime safety, and the resolution requests states to support efforts to facilitate the safe evacuation of merchant vessels trapped in the Gulf, using an IMO-recognised maritime route. States are also urged to ensure the continued provision of water, food, fuel, and other essential supplies to ships unable to leave the region.

During the MSC session, the UAE issued a joint statement co-signed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, categorically rejecting Iran’s proposed alternative transit route through the Strait of Hormuz. The countries also rejected the establishment of a so-called “Persian Gulf Strait Authority,” which they said was falsely presented as a sovereign governance entity for managing vessel traffic.

The statement said the entity’s claimed jurisdiction “outrageously” extends into the territorial waters of neighbouring states, including the UAE, in “clear violation of the sovereignty of those states.” The countries added that such measures constitute a “gross violation of international law” and undermine the IMO’s role in ensuring safe navigation through the strait.

The resolution encourages coordination among flag states, shipowners, and operators to ensure continued use of the IMO-recognised maritime route.

UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei welcomed the adoption of the resolution, saying: “With the adoption of this resolution, the international community has once again spoken clearly against Iran’s unlawful actions and its severe impacts on navigational safety and the safety of seafarers”.

He added that “ensuring the safety and well-being of more than 20,000 seafarers stranded as a result of Iran’s unlawful actions is a core priority of the UAE. IMO Member States and relevant international organisations must continue all efforts to that end.”

By Vafa Guliyeva