United Nations, April 27: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday issued an urgent plea at the UN Security Council to end the use of merchant shipping as a tool of political pressure, warning that the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is pushing the world toward a humanitarian and economic catastrophe. The appeal came as more than 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard over 2,000 commercial vessels caught in what Guterres described as "a web of risks and restrictions to navigation."

Key Developments at the Security Council

Speaking at a special session on maritime security, Guterres called for the immediate implementation of an emergency evacuation framework developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). He urged all member nations to support a coordinated plan "to ensure the safe movement, assistance, and protection of affected crews." His remarks carried particular urgency as the humanitarian toll continues to mount with each passing day of the disruption.

"Their safety, their well-being, and their rights must be protected — at all times, and in all waters," Guterres stated, according to remarks delivered at the session.

Indian Sailors Among Those Most Affected

The crisis has struck India with disproportionate force. According to reports, approximately 30 Indian-flagged ships carrying over 1,000 personnel are currently trapped in the Hormuz region. Additionally, thousands of Indian sailors are reportedly stranded aboard vessels flagged under other nations operating within the zone. Critically, three Indian sailors have died in attacks on their vessels, and three Indian-flagged ships have been attacked by Iran — a development that has drawn sharp concern from New Delhi and maritime advocacy groups alike.

This comes amid a broader pattern of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, where freedom of navigation has been repeatedly challenged over the past several years, particularly since 2019 when Iran began seizing foreign vessels in disputed circumstances.

Global Food and Energy Security at Stake

Guterres issued a stark warning about the downstream consequences of prolonged disruption. "Prolonged disruption risks triggering a global food emergency — pushing millions, especially in Africa and South Asia, into hunger and poverty," he said. The stakes are enormous: roughly 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas supply and approximately one-third of all internationally traded fertilisers transit through the strait annually. "Safe, unimpeded passage is an economic and humanitarian imperative," he added.

Notably, the economic shock is already being felt globally. "The economic shock has been immediate — and everyone is paying the price," Guterres warned, underscoring that no nation is insulated from the fallout of a prolonged Hormuz blockade.

Iran's Toll Proposal Draws Legal Challenge

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told Iranian state television that legislation is being prepared to impose tolls on shipping passing through the strait, to be collected in Iranian Rials. The proposal immediately drew a sharp legal rebuke from IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, who stated unequivocally: "There is no legal basis for any country to introduce payments or impose tolls, fees, or discriminatory conditions on international straits."

Dominguez also called for the full upholding of the traffic separation scheme — a maritime corridor jointly devised by Iran and Oman under IMO auspices and accepted by both nations — as the most immediate mechanism to restore safe passage.

What Happens Next

The Security Council session signals growing multilateral pressure on Tehran to de-escalate its posture in the strait. However, with Iran advancing domestic legislation to monetise passage rights and geopolitical fault lines deepening, a swift resolution remains uncertain. The IMO's emergency evacuation framework is expected to be the immediate focus of diplomatic efforts, with Indian officials likely to push hard for the safe return of their nationals. All eyes now turn to whether member states will translate Guterres's appeal into coordinated action — or whether the crisis will deepen further in the weeks ahead.