Iran slams US strikes on Chabahar Port, maritime infrastructure at IMO
Synopsis
Iran took its grievance to the world's top maritime body, accusing the US of destroying the very infrastructure it claims to protect. With 90 Iranian military targets struck over two nights and Iran hitting back at US bases in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz — conduit for a fifth of global oil — is now at the centre of a rapidly escalating confrontation.
Key Takeaways
Iran formally condemned US strikes on Chabahar Port and maritime infrastructure at the IMO Council's 137th session in London on 9 July .
US Central Command confirmed striking approximately 90 Iranian military targets over two consecutive nights , targeting air defence, coastal surveillance, and naval assets.
Iran's representative said the strikes hit the maritime traffic control tower at Chabahar Port , civilian fishing vessels, and navigation safety equipment.
Iran's IRGC and army claimed retaliatory strikes on US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar .
The Strait of Hormuz , through which roughly 20% of global oil supply transits, remains the focal point of the maritime security crisis.
Iran on Thursday, 9 July formally condemned what it described as US 'military aggression' against Iranian ports, coastal areas, and maritime infrastructure, telling the 137th session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council in London that two consecutive nights of American strikes had directly endangered civilian lives, seafarers, and commercial shipping.
What Iran Said at the IMO
An Iranian representative told the IMO Council that targets struck by US forces included the maritime traffic control tower at Chabahar Port, civilian fishing vessels, and navigation safety equipment. He stated: 'These attacks constitute a manifestly unlawful use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and have directly endangered civilian lives, seafarers, commercial shipping and the marine environment.'
The representative also challenged Washington's stated rationale, arguing that a state 'cannot credibly claim to defend maritime security while destroying the very infrastructure upon which safe navigation depends.' He accused the United States of invoking freedom of navigation as justification while simultaneously attacking the traffic control facilities designed to protect vessels and seafarers.
US Military's Account of the Strikes
US Central Command said its forces had completed an additional round of strikes aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — marking the second consecutive day of such operations. According to the command, approximately 90 Iranian military targets were struck, encompassing air defence systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran's coastline.
Iran's Counter-Strikes
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and army separately reported that they had struck US military bases and facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar in response. The claim has not been independently verified.
The Broader Crisis and What It Means for Shipping
The Iranian representative stressed that the deterioration of maritime safety was not a cause of the current crisis but 'one among the many direct consequences' of what he characterised as a war of aggression waged by the United States and Israel against Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply transits, remains the focal point of concern for global energy markets and shipping insurers. This is the first time Iran has formally raised the conflict before the IMO, internationalising the maritime dimension of the standoff. All eyes are now on how the IMO Council responds and whether member states move toward a formal resolution.
Point of View
Where the US holds a veto, to a technical body where procedural pressure is easier to build. The US argument that it is defending freedom of navigation while striking navigation control towers is a contradiction that will be difficult to sustain in multilateral forums. What mainstream coverage is underplaying is the Chabahar dimension: India has significant infrastructure investment in Chabahar Port, and damage there has direct economic and strategic consequences for New Delhi that extend well beyond the US-Iran bilateral. The next 48 hours — and whether the IMO Council issues any formal statement — will signal how far the international community is willing to go in constraining the military escalation.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Iran say at the IMO meeting on 9 July?
Iran's representative at the 137th IMO Council session in London condemned US strikes on Chabahar Port and maritime infrastructure as 'manifestly unlawful,' saying they endangered civilian lives, seafarers, and commercial shipping. He argued the US could not credibly defend maritime security while destroying navigation control facilities.
What targets did the US strike in Iran?
US Central Command said it struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets over two consecutive nights, including air defence systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran's coastline. The stated aim was to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
How did Iran respond to the US strikes?
Iran's IRGC and army claimed they struck US military bases and facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar in retaliation. The claim has not been independently verified.
Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter for global trade?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, with roughly 20% of global oil supply passing through it. Any sustained disruption to navigation there has immediate consequences for energy prices and shipping insurance costs worldwide.
What is India's stake in the Chabahar Port situation?
India has made significant infrastructure investments in Chabahar Port in Iran as part of a strategic connectivity project linking it to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Damage to the port's maritime control infrastructure directly affects Indian trade and strategic interests in the region.
