UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid stalled US-Iran peace talks.
"I appeal to the parties: Open the Strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe," Guterres said at a high-level UN Security Council debate on maritime security on Monday.
The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows — has faced major disruptions since early March after the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28.
The war is currently on hold, and efforts to end it permanently are under way.
"Since early March, the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has struck at global energy security, food supplies, and trade. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints," Guterres said.
Safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian "imperative," he said, adding: "The economic shock has been immediate – and everyone is paying the price."
Call for restraint and dialogue
Beyond economic indicators, Guterres highlighted the human cost of the crisis. More than 20,000 seafarers remain stranded at sea, while over 2,000 commercial vessels are caught in uncertain and often dangerous conditions.
“These men and women are not parties to any conflict,” he said. “They are civilian workers keeping the world supplied.”
Guterres emphasised that international law must be upheld, including navigational rights guaranteed under the Law of the Sea. He referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2817, stressing that safe and unimpeded passage through the strait is a fundamental principle.
“The Charter’s prohibition of the threat or use of force applies fully at sea,” he said.
The UN chief urged all parties to pursue restraint and dialogue, offering his mediation to help resolve tensions. He pointed to past efforts such as the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by Türkiye and the UN in 2022 as proof that cooperation is possible even during conflict.
“The ocean must be a zone of peace and cooperation — not confrontation or coercion,” Guterres said.
