Strait of Hormuz crisis traps 6,000 sailors as attacks on ships mount, UN maritime chief says
By
asserted
chief → trap → ships
Thousands of sailors remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating attacks on commercial ships, the United Nations’ top maritime official warned Sunday after Iran accused the US military of using an international emergency radio channel to threaten civilian crews.
asserted
Iran → remain → crews
The warning also came amid reports that 24 ships had been attacked on the waterway over roughly two weeks, underscoring growing concerns about maritime safety in the region, according to Financial Times.
uncertain
ships → come → Times
“The situation continues to be severe and critical when it comes to international shipping,” International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told Fox News Digital.
asserted
Dominguez → continue → Digital
“There is a double blockade and too many vessels have been attacked, particularly in recent days.
asserted
vessels → be → days
“Seafarers have continued to perish in these attacks and around 6,000 seafarers remain trapped since the beginning of the conflict,” he warned, adding that his message was not to transit the Strait of Hormuz or put seafarers at risk “until we have guarantees.”
asserted
we → continue → guarantees
“VHF Channel 16 has been repeatedly occupied for prolonged periods by the United States military forces operating in the Persian Gulf,” the letter stated.
asserted
letter → occupy → Gulf
“During such transmissions, Iranian seafarers have been addressed in Persian with threatening, abusive and provocative language and in certain instances urged to abandon their vessels.”
asserted
seafarers → address → vessels
In a statement to Fox News Digital, US Central Command defended its enforcement of the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
asserted
Command → defend → ports
“The US naval blockade has been in place for months and is professionally communicated to all international mariners,” CENTCOM said.
asserted
CENTCOM → communicate → mariners
“Vessels that refuse to comply with blockade enforcement receive multiple warnings, with ample opportunity to comply.
asserted
that → refuse → opportunity
“American forces remain highly vigilant, focused, and professional while fully enforcing the naval blockade against Iran.”
Iran’s complaint was submitted by Seyed Ali Mousavi, its ambassador to the IMO, and circulated to member states on Oct. 9, according to a copy reviewed by Fox News Digital.
uncertain
complaint → remain → Digital
Tehran also accused American forces of turning the maritime safety channel into an “instrument of military intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews.”
asserted
Tehran → accuse → crews
The letter cited commercial vessels, shipping companies and maritime operators but provided no recordings, transcripts or specific details of the alleged exchanges.
asserted
letter → cite → exchanges
Fox News Digital could not independently verify the accusations.
uncertain
Digital → verify → accusations
“Seafarers are not trained for combat, and they are not guilty of any conflicts that are happening around the world,” Dominguez said.
asserted
Dominguez → train → world
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
asserted
Report → start → news
“And we have seen this in several parts of the world where Channel 16, that should not be used for this kind of communication, starts receiving messages that may be perceived as actually threatening or that are outside the remit of why it was created.”
uncertain
it → see → remit
Iran also asked the IMO to raise its allegations with member states and relevant international organizations, potentially including the International Telecommunication Union.
asserted
Iran → ask → Union
Dominguez said the IMO could review its regulations and procedures to determine whether stronger safeguards are needed, though he did not announce a formal investigation.
uncertain
he → say → investigation
“Our role here at IMO is that when those situations take place, we will then look into any technical measures or any operational aspects that we may need to clarify further within our regulatory framework,” he said, stressing that member states have equal rights to raise concerns, regardless of the conflict.
“
uncertain
states → take → conflict
We have a responsibility, and I have a duty as well, to circulate letters and notes that the countries actually put forward when they’re also being affected.
asserted
they → have → that
“We take all that information, meet at the level of different meetings of the organization and have the discussions,” Dominguez added.
asserted
Dominguez → take → discussions
“If it’s demonstrated that we probably need to improve our rules in order to avoid communications issues, or that we need to enhance the knowledge of how these channels should be used, that is a role for us.”
asserted
that → demonstrate → us
The IMO had recorded 100 confirmed maritime incidents across the region as of Oct. 9, with 24 seafarers killed since the conflict began Feb. 28.
asserted
conflict → record → Oct.
Dominguez also warned that fraudulent ship registrations and false flags have become major contributors to the danger.
asserted
registrations → warn → danger
“What we’ve also seen right now is an increase in fraudulent registries with false flags that are taking the risk and acting as shuttle tankers in order to bring goods in and out,” he said.
asserted
he → see → goods
“That’s one of the reasons that we’re seeing an escalation.
asserted
we → ’ → escalation
“And it’s the irresponsible shipowners that are taking the risk in order to actually be able to trade and move some of the goods and the cargoes.”
asserted
that → ’ → goods
“For me, any single case, any vessel that is attacked, any life of a seafarer that is lost, is a critical situation for me, because they are all relevant, they are all important.”
asserted
they → attack → me
Despite the confrontation, Dominguez said diplomatic channels with Iran remain open, though he has no direct contact with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
asserted
he → say → Corps
“I have communications with all the member states of IMO, and that includes the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
asserted
he → have → Iran
“Of course, that’s through the diplomatic channels.
asserted
that → ’ → channels
I don’t have direct contact with the IRGC.
asserted
I → have → IRGC
“I have conversations with them and they respond to my messages.
asserted
they → have → messages
You know, the information flows.
asserted
information → know → ?
What is difficult is to get final decisions because of the conflict that is ongoing.”
asserted
that → get → conflict
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Iranian embassy for comment.
asserted
Digital → reach → comment
The Aporia
