UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the need to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, based on Security Council Resolution 2817, warning of worsening humanitarian and economic repercussions resulting from tensions in this vital waterway.
Guterres pointed out that more than 20,000 sailors are currently stranded at sea, stressing that they are civilians whose safety and rights must be guaranteed at all times amid escalating navigation-related risks.
He noted that the continuation of the crisis could push millions of people, particularly in Africa and South Asia, into deeper hunger and poverty, further aggravating the humanitarian situation in those regions.
The Secretary-General called on all parties to open the strait to ships without imposing fees or obstacles, stressing that the current phase requires restraint and recourse to dialogue, leading to a peaceful settlement in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
