The Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters recorded their worst month of commercial-shipping incidents since the Iran war began
UNITED NATIONS — International NEWS Service – Twenty-five seafarers have been killed in 134 confirmed maritime incidents around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East since the Iran conflict began, according to figures presented to the UN Security Council.
The International Maritime Organization’s count covered incidents reported through November 11. Other crew members have been injured or remain missing, while some commercial vessels and their crews have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for months.
October brought the highest monthly number of incidents against commercial shipping since February, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari told the council. He warned that restrictions on navigation and continuing attacks have left maritime traffic costly, unpredictable and unsafe.
The strait carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil before the conflict, making disruption there a threat to energy prices and supply chains far beyond the region. The UN said Gulf energy exports have largely recovered through alternative routes, but total maritime shipments remain below their prewar level.
Responsibility for the incidents is spread across a conflict involving multiple states and armed groups. The UN called on all parties to protect civilian vessels and comply with international law rather than treating commercial ships and their crews as military targets.
There have been no recent reports of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, Khiari said. However, fighting near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and renewed cross-border attacks connected to Yemen continue to threaten another major shipping route.
The figures show that even periods of reduced military escalation have not restored safe passage. For crews operating in the region, the conflict remains a direct and sometimes fatal workplace hazard.
Sources: UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; UN Security Council coverage
