At an emergency meeting of the UN’s maritime body on March 18, Gulf states and Western nations expressed strong condemnation of Iran amid escalating concerns for thousands of stranded ships and seafarers. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) convened this gathering in light of Iran’s aggressive response to US-Israeli strikes, which has led to attacks on Gulf nations and commercial shipping.
Numerous countries utilized their opening statements to criticize Tehran’s actions, which have severely disrupted maritime trade in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The IMO reported that approximately 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded on around 3,200 vessels west of this vital shipping route. Qatar’s delegate firmly denounced Iran’s threats and attacks against merchant vessels and regional shipping infrastructure.
The United Arab Emirates characterized Iran’s actions as “unprovoked, unjustifiable, indiscriminate, and wholly unlawful,” while Saudi Arabia deemed them “utterly unacceptable and unjustifiable under any circumstances.” The United States urged the international community to counteract Iran’s destabilizing actions, emphasizing the need to protect civilians and maintain the integrity of critical international waterways.
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