The UAE welcomes the decision of the International Maritime Organization Council, which strongly condemns the Iranian attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates welcomed the IMO Council’s resolution, adopted during the 36th Extraordinary Session of the Council, which strongly condemns Iranian threats and attacks against ships as well as its alleged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Council stressed that these actions contradict the objectives of the International Maritime Organization and represent a serious danger to lives, especially the safety of seafarers, and also constitute a major danger to the marine environment.
The Council condemned in the strongest terms the Iranian attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan, describing the attacks as a violation of international law.
The United Arab Emirates submitted this declaration, which was co-sponsored by more than 115 member states of the International Maritime Organization, which is the largest number of countries sponsoring a resolution in the organization’s history, which reflects the global impact of Iranian practices and their condemnation, and highlights the shared responsibility of the international community in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to this resolution, the IMO Council calls on Iran to immediately refrain from any actions or threats aimed at closing the Strait of Hormuz, obstructing or interfering in international navigation through it in any way, or targeting commercial ships in the Strait and its surroundings.
The Council also reaffirms the need to respect commercial ships’ exercise of their rights and freedom of navigation. The Council stressed the utmost importance of preserving the safety and well-being of seafarers, referring also to Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which affirmed that any attempt to obstruct lawful passage or freedom of navigation through international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz is a serious threat to international peace and security.
The declaration calls on IMO committees to consider the repercussions of this situation on the implementation of the organization’s rules, and to take appropriate measures.
The UAE also welcomes the Council’s adoption of the proposal submitted by Japan, which encourages the establishment of a framework for a maritime security corridor to facilitate the safe evacuation of sailors from the strait.
The Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Maritime Organization, Mohammed Khamis Saeed Al Kaabi, welcomed the Council’s announcement, saying: “The Council, and the international community as a whole, spoke clearly today calling on Iran to respect its obligations under international law, and to allow commercial ships to sail freely and safely through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital international waterway for energy supplies and the global economy.”
The UAE confirms that the Strait of Hormuz is not just a vital energy corridor through which a large share of global oil and gas supplies passes, but rather is a vital artery for global trade, including fertilisers, metals, petrochemicals and basic commodities, and that any disruption to traffic through it has far-reaching consequences on global markets, economic stability, and the cost of living globally, especially in the most fragile regions.
The UAE stresses that any attempt to use the Strait as a tool for economic coercion or to threaten international navigation is unacceptable and threatens to undermine regional stability and the broader global economic system.
The UAE affirms its continued commitment to participate in all relevant multilateral forums in order to effectively address the repercussions of Iran’s illegal actions, as the threat to maritime security and freedom of navigation severely undermines regional and international stability, and must be addressed.