The UAE welcomes the decision of the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization confirming the right of transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz and strongly condemns its closure by Iran.
Abu Dhabi, April 17 / WAM / The United Arab Emirates welcomed the decision of the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization, which was adopted during its 113th session, which strongly condemned the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, along with its attacks and threats to ships in the region, and its attacks on the territories of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan. The Committee also condemned Iran’s threats related to planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz and its surroundings, and the fee system it imposed on ships crossing the Strait according to reports received in this regard.
The Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization confirmed, in its decision submitted by the UAE, that these actions conflict with the right of transit passage through the Strait, which is a right that should not be obstructed, calling on Iran to stop its attacks, remove any sea mines that it may have planted in the Strait of Hormuz and its surroundings, and adhere to its duties in accordance with international law, especially ensuring the passage of ships through the Strait without obstacles.
His Excellency Mohammed Khamis Saeed Al Kaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Maritime Organization, welcomed the Legal Committee’s decision, saying: “Today the Legal Committee demonstrated a united position in defense of a principled international maritime order, and supported the right of transit passage for ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Committee was not affected by Iran’s attempt to justify its illegal actions and undermine the authority and procedures of the International Maritime Organization. The international community has categorically affirmed, through the work of the Committee, the right of transit passage in this vital international waterway.”
Like the Council of the International Maritime Organization, the Legal Committee condemned Iran’s attacks and threats as inconsistent with the objectives of the organization and posing a grave danger to lives, especially sailors, as well as representing a serious threat to the marine environment. It called on Iran to immediately refrain from any actions or threats aimed at closing, obstructing, or interfering in any other way with international shipping traffic in the region.
The Legal Committee called on the Secretary-General of the Organization to monitor incidents and negative impacts resulting from Iran’s actions on international shipping traffic, sailors, the marine environment, trade and logistics services, in a way that contributes to holding Iran accountable for these illegal actions.
The Legal Committee’s decision follows the IMO Facilitation Committee’s decision of 27 March 2026, which recognized the concerns of the IMO Council regarding the serious impacts of Iran’s blatant attacks on commercial ships on international maritime traffic, calling on the Secretary-General of the Organization to take the necessary measures to begin establishing a framework to facilitate the safe evacuation of commercial ships stranded in the region.
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