The strategic Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed, leaving about 3,000 vessels and more than 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Middle East amid escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said.
The United Nations maritime agency warned that the disruption to the critical global shipping corridor could trigger serious economic and humanitarian consequences, as the route carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply and a significant share of liquefied natural gas shipments.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the waterway, which serves as the main maritime gateway to the Persian Gulf, has effectively been shut due to growing security threats and a deadly incident involving commercial shipping.
Dominguez said the closure followed an attack on a tugboat assisting another vessel in the strait early Friday morning. The vessel was struck during the incident, killing four seafarers and heightening fears among shipping operators about the safety of navigation through the narrow channel.
The IMO chief condemned the attack and warned that the overall security situation in the region was rapidly deteriorating, urging commercial vessels to avoid navigating through the area until conditions stabilise.
More Read
“Ships should exercise extreme caution and avoid transiting the area while the security risks remain elevated,” Dominguez said, adding that the protection of seafarers and merchant shipping must remain a global priority.
He also called on governments involved in the escalating confrontation to pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and restoring safe navigation through the vital maritime corridor.
“Member states must find solutions through dialogue in order to de-escalate and restore the safe and free movement of ships in the region,” he said.
More Read
Background on Strait Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is widely regarded as one of the most strategically important chokepoints in global maritime trade. The narrow waterway links oil-producing states in the Gulf to international markets and handles daily shipments of crude oil and natural gas from major exporters including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar.
Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the strait could send shockwaves through global energy markets, raising concerns about supply shortages and sharp increases in oil prices.
Industry analysts say the closure has already forced hundreds of vessels to halt operations or reroute shipments, creating a growing backlog of cargo ships waiting to enter or exit the Gulf.
Beyond the energy sector, United Nations officials have also warned about the potential humanitarian consequences of prolonged disruptions to global maritime routes.
Tom Fletcher, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the widening Middle East conflict could have far-reaching global impacts, particularly if major shipping lanes remain blocked.
According to Fletcher, disruptions to routes such as the Strait of Hormuz could drive up global food prices by increasing transportation costs and delaying the movement of agricultural commodities.
He added that humanitarian supply chains could also be affected, making it harder to deliver food, medicines and other essential goods to populations already facing crises.
“Disruptions to critical maritime corridors could have cascading consequences for global supply chains and humanitarian operations,” Fletcher warned.
He said such disruptions could also place additional strain on already fragile health systems in vulnerable regions by delaying medical shipments and emergency aid deliveries.
The growing crisis comes amid fears that the conflict in the Middle East could expand further, threatening additional infrastructure and commercial shipping routes across the region.
Maritime security experts say restoring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz will be crucial to stabilising global energy markets and preventing wider economic disruption.
For now, shipping companies and international regulators are closely monitoring developments as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further escalation and reopen one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.
