UN Maritime Chief: 6,000 Sailors Trapped Near Hormuz as Iran Accuses U.S. Forces of Threatening Crews on a Distress Channel
Reports say 24 ships have been attacked in about two weeks. CENTCOM says its blockade is professionally communicated, and Iran supplied no recordings with its complaint.
The United Nations' top maritime official has a blunt message for shipping companies: stay out of the Strait of Hormuz until there are guarantees.
International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told Fox News Digital on Sunday that "the situation continues to be severe and critical." He said "there is a double blockade and too many vessels have been attacked, particularly in recent days," and that about 6,000 seafarers "remain trapped since the beginning of the conflict." Fox cites the Financial Times for a count of 24 ships attacked on the waterway over roughly two weeks. By the IMO's tally, as of Oct. 9 there had been 100 confirmed maritime incidents in the region and 24 seafarers killed since the conflict began Feb. 28.
Dominguez also pointed to fraudulent ship registrations and false flags. He said "irresponsible shipowners" are using them to move cargo through the danger zone, which he called one reason for the escalation.
Iran's complaint. In an Oct. 9 letter to the IMO, Iran alleged that U.S. forces have repeatedly occupied VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress and safety channel, and used it to address Iranian crews in Persian with "threatening, abusive and provocative language," at times urging them to abandon their vessels. Tehran called it an "instrument of military intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews." Fox says the letter included no recordings, transcripts or specific details, and that Fox could not independently verify it.
The U.S. response. U.S. Central Command told Fox the naval blockade of Iranian ports "has been in place for months and is professionally communicated to all international mariners." It said ships that refuse to comply "receive multiple warnings, with ample opportunity to comply," and that American forces remain "highly vigilant, focused, and professional."
What the IMO will do. Dominguez said he has a duty to circulate member states' letters and that the IMO could review its rules if a problem with channel use is shown. He did not announce an investigation. He said diplomatic contact with Iran remains open.
What remains unproven: Iran's claim about the radio channel. Fox could not verify it, and CENTCOM's reply addresses the blockade in general, not any specific incident, because Iran named none.