On Monday, July 13th, 2026, UN agencies called for diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage through which a fifth of global oil and natural gas exports transit. This appeal came amid a surge in attacks linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned recent assaults on civilian vessels in the strait and urged swift de-escalation. The council emphasized that the right of transit passage through international straits must not be threatened or impeded and reaffirmed that any coastal state regulations should comply with IMO's International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea. It also stressed that arrangements among littoral states must guarantee non-discriminatory and unimpeded passage of all ships according to the traffic separation scheme adopted in 1968.

In a social media statement on the same day, US President Donald Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz would "remain open" and announced plans to reinstate a blockade of Iranian ports. He further stated that the US would impose a 20% fee on all goods passing through the waterway, describing the move as necessary for "safety and security."

Responding to Trump, Iranian official Abbas Araghchi acknowledged the US position as "absolutely right" but indicated that Iran would charge a lower fee, promising fairness.

Humanitarian and economic shocks have been ongoing in the region for months, according to a report released on July 10th by Switzerland-based ACAPS, specialists in humanitarian needs analysis. The report noted that these shocks echo the commodity price surges following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which continue to impact local economies years after energy market recoveries, as highlighted by the UN trade agency UNCTAD.

The UN Secretary-General had called on Sunday, July 12th, for further negotiations between Washington and Tehran to ease tensions.

Sources