Hormuz blockade affects chemical fertilizers, Guterres suggests UN role in vessel movement

Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, yesterday put forward the idea that the international organization should become involved in facilitating the maritime transport of chemical fertilizers, which has been disrupted by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

At a press conference in New York, the UN chief said the objective was “simple”: to reduce immediate risks, support more coordinated and predictable shipping, and help restore the trust needed for diplomacy and de-escalation.

After beginning work on the issue in March, Guterres suggested establishing “a mechanism for registering and verifying vessels carrying, at least initially, fertilizers and similar products.”

Under the proposal, the initiative would also include an incident-prevention mechanism under Oman’s leadership.

Guterres clarified that the mechanism would not authorize passage through the Strait of Hormuz, nor would it alter the rights or obligations of member states under international law.

“We are absolutely ready to put it into operation, although it is clear that this does not mean that all the countries involved in this conflict accept the mechanism,” he said, stressing that the UN seeks to play a “neutral” and “facilitating” role.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli bombardments of its territory on February 28, which are the cause of the war in the Middle East. Before the armed conflict, one-fifth of the hydrocarbons consumed worldwide passed through this sea route.

Tehran has announced that it wants to continue imposing fees for services provided to vessels in transit, a move strongly opposed by the United States and several countries in the region.

US President Donald Trump, for his part, has declared that Washington exercises “full control” over the strait, which, he said, will become “American territory” after the war.