Guterres Calls for Freedom of Navigation in Hormuz

By Staff, Agencies

UN Secretary-General António Guterres renewed his call on Monday to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the UN is ready to explore a negotiated mechanism that respects the sovereign rights of the countries concerned.

Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, Guterres warned that maritime chokepoints must not become instruments of coercion and that the flow of food, energy and other essential goods must not be disrupted.

He said the unimpeded exercise of navigational rights and freedoms is a cornerstone of peace, security and shared prosperity, describing their protection as both a legal obligation and a humanitarian imperative.

Guterres also warned that restrictions on chemical fertilizer exports from the Gulf could worsen global food insecurity, leading to higher prices, weaker harvests and greater suffering among vulnerable populations.

He stressed that navigational rights are not merely abstract principles but obligations under international law.

Under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, states bordering straits used for international navigation are prohibited from hampering transit passage, although the US, Iran and "Israel" have not ratified the convention.