UN: Strait of Hormuz Crisis Traps 6,000 Sailors as Attacks Rise

Thousands of sailors remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on commercial vessels intensify, the United Nations’ leading maritime official said Sunday. His warning came after Iran accused the U.S. military of using an international emergency radio channel to threaten civilian crews.

The alert followed reports that 24 ships had come under attack in the waterway over a period of roughly two weeks, highlighting the mounting dangers facing commercial shipping in the region, according to the Financial Times.

“The situation continues to be severe and critical for international shipping,” International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told News Outlet.

“There is a double blockade, and too many vessels have been attacked, particularly in recent days.”

“Seafarers have continued to perish in these attacks, and around 6,000 remain trapped since the conflict began,” Dominguez said. He urged vessels not to enter the Strait of Hormuz or expose their crews to danger “until we have guarantees.”

Dominguez’s comments came after Iran sent the IMO a letter dated Oct. 9 alleging that U.S. forces had used VHF Channel 16—an internationally designated maritime distress and safety frequency—to intimidate Iranian crews in the Persian Gulf.

“VHF Channel 16 has been repeatedly occupied for prolonged periods by United States military forces operating in the Persian Gulf,” the letter said.

“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.”

In a statement to News Outlet, U.S. Central Command defended its enforcement of the naval blockade on Iranian ports.

“The U.S. naval blockade has been in place for months and is professionally communicated to all international mariners,” CENTCOM said.

“Vessels that refuse to comply with blockade enforcement receive multiple warnings, with ample opportunity to comply.”

“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, the country’s ambassador to the IMO, and circulated to member states on Oct. 9, according to a copy reviewed by News Outlet.

Tehran also accused U.S. forces of transforming the maritime safety frequency into an “instrument of military intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews.”

The letter referred to commercial vessels, shipping companies and maritime operators but included no recordings, transcripts or specific details of the alleged exchanges. News Outlet was unable to independently verify the claims.

“Seafarers are not trained for combat, and they are not responsible for the conflicts unfolding around the world,” Dominguez said.

“We have seen this in several parts of the world, where Channel 16—designed for safety communications—begins carrying messages that can be perceived as threatening or that fall outside the purpose for which it was created.”

Iran also asked the IMO to raise its allegations with member states and relevant international organizations, potentially including the International Telecommunication 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.

“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.

“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.”

“We take all that information, meet at the level of different meetings of the organization and have the discussions,” Dominguez added.

“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.”

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. Dominguez also warned that fraudulent ship registrations and false flags have become major contributors to the 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. “That’s one of the reasons that we’re seeing an 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.”

“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.”

Despite the confrontation, Dominguez said diplomatic channels with Iran remain open, though he has no direct contact with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“I have communications with all the member states of IMO, and that includes the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.

“Of course, that’s through the diplomatic channels. I don’t have direct contact with the IRGC.

“I have conversations with them and they respond to my messages. You know, the information flows. What is difficult is to get final decisions because of the conflict that is ongoing.”

News Outlet has reached out to the Iranian embassy for comment.