Monday, 25 May 2026
Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
Iran and Israel exchange blame over maritime security
LONDON – Iran and Israel traded sharp accusations on Wednesday at the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO), each alleging the other was jeopardizing commercial navigation in key sea lanes near the Gulf and the Red Sea as military tensions between the two nations continued to mount, Reuters reported.
During a session of the IMO’s security committee, the Iranian delegation claimed Israel had recently broadened its "unlawful attacks" to target petrochemical and gas facilities in Asalouyeh on Iran’s Gulf coast.
"These actions pose a direct threat to international maritime security and the stability of the global energy supply chain," Iran declared in a statement addressed to IMO delegates, broadcast live.
"Ignoring this aggression without immediate and tangible intervention from the international community risks imminent escalation at sea."
Previously, Iran has warned that it could close the Strait of Hormuz in response to Western pressures—an act that would disrupt global trade and potentially drive up oil prices.
On Wednesday, shipping sources said maritime agencies are now recommending commercial vessels steer clear of Iranian waters near the Strait of Hormuz.
Ehsan Khandouzi, Iran’s former Economy Minister, has stated that tankers and liquefied natural gas shipments should only be allowed through the Strait with Iran's approval.
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Donald Trump’s call for an unconditional surrender, as the U.S. president announced his patience had worn thin but did not indicate any immediate action.
Israel’s representative told the delegates Iran’s actions—including support for Yemen’s Houthi militia, which has disrupted shipping in the Suez Canal and Red Sea—are a direct challenge to the IMO’s core mission of ensuring safe, secure global maritime navigation.
"Iran has transformed our entire region, particularly the Red Sea, into a battlefield. By providing political, financial, and military support to the Houthi rebels, Iran enables a campaign of maritime terrorism targeting civilian vessels," Israel asserted.
"It aims to weaponize the busiest sea lanes, hold global shipping hostage, and enforce its demands through violence."
Based in London, the IMO regulates international shipping safety and security, as well as pollution prevention, with 176 member states.
An IMO spokesperson confirmed that the Maritime Safety Committee took note of the statements issued by Iran and Israel on Wednesday.