A total of 115 states have supported the initiative advocating for freedom of navigation in this vital global trade route.
Dubai: The UAE has welcomed a resolution passed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, strongly condemning Iranian threats and attacks on shipping, as well as the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The resolution was adopted during the council’s 36th extraordinary session, with the IMO highlighting that such actions endanger lives—especially those of seafarers—and pose significant risks to the marine environment.
The council also condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan, characterizing them as violations of international law.
Shared responsibility: The UAE stated that the resolution, co-sponsored by over 115 member states—the largest number in the organization’s history—reflects widespread international concern and highlights the collective responsibility to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the resolution, Iran is urged to immediately refrain from any actions or threats that could close the strait, disrupt international navigation, or target commercial vessels.
The council reaffirmed the right of commercial ships to navigate freely and safely, emphasizing the protection of seafarers and referencing UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which warns that obstructing international waterways poses a serious threat to global peace and security.
Maritime security corridor: The UAE also welcomed the IMO Council’s adoption of Japan’s proposal, which encourages establishing a maritime security corridor to ensure the safe evacuation of seafarers from the Strait of Hormuz.
Mohamed Khamis Saeed AlKaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the IMO, welcomed the Council’s declaration, stating: “The Council, and the international community as a whole, spoke clearly today in demanding that Iran respect its obligations under international law and allow merchant and commercial vessels to navigate freely and safely through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway critical to energy supply and the global economy.”
Critical artery of global trade: The UAE emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is not only a crucial energy corridor, carrying a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas supplies, but also a key route for global trade, including fertilizers, minerals, petrochemicals, and essential goods.
The UAE warned that any disruption of this waterway could have far-reaching effects on global markets, economic stability, and the cost of living worldwide, particularly in vulnerable regions.
It reiterated that using the Strait as a means of economic coercion or to threaten international shipping is unacceptable and poses serious risks to both regional stability and the broader global economic order.
The UAE reaffirmed its commitment to active engagement in all relevant multilateral forums to address the impacts of Iran’s unlawful actions, stressing that threats to maritime security and freedom of navigation seriously undermine regional and international stability and must be addressed.
