UN Reaffirms Support for Freedom of Navigation in Strait of Hormuz Amid Reports of US Shipping Fee Plan
UN Reaffirms Support for Freedom of Navigation in Strait of Hormuz Amid Reports of US Shipping Fee Plan
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The United Nations has reiterated its call for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz following reports that the United States plans to impose a 20 percent fee on ships passing through the strategic waterway.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday that Secretary-General António Guterres’ position remains unchanged, emphasizing that the UN supports maintaining unrestricted navigation through the strait.
The comments came after renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran over the weekend. US President Donald Trump said Washington was reinstating a blockade on Iran and would charge ships for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The UN also confirmed that Jean Arnault, officer-in-charge of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during his first visit to Iran.
According to Dujarric, Arnault discussed UN efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, reviewed regional challenges, and sought Iran’s views on how regional countries could support Lebanon’s efforts toward peace, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy transit routes, with a significant share of global oil and gas shipments passing through the waterway.
