UN chief proposes mechanism to protect fertiliser flow through Strait of Hormuz

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres proposed a new mechanism on Monday to ensure the continuous flow of fertilizers and other essential goods through the Strait of Hormuz. The issue arose as he warned that traffic through this crucial shipping route had nearly come to a standstill due to conflict-driven surges in global energy and food costs.

Oil prices have soared by about 33 percent since the onset of the conflict, while container rates have climbed 84 percent compared to a year ago, according to Guterres, speaking to reporters in New York. Fertilizer and other vital input costs are also experiencing sharp increases. Guterres highlighted how these crises are strangling global trade arteries and disproportionately affecting the global food system, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and routes affected by the war in Ukraine.

The US President, Donald Trump, claimed on Monday that Iran was "collapsing" as the administration prepared to unveil details of a fresh economic pressure campaign. Under the US naval blockade of Iran, Tehran's oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have plummeted from two million barrels a day before the war to just 0.4 million barrels by mid-August, as reported by maritime tracker Kpler.

The Strait of Hormuz is a pivotal energy chokepoint, managing roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade, along with significant flows of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.

Addressing the press, Guterres underscored that attacks on shipping are squeezing the global food system, leading to higher prices, deepening hunger, and weaker harvests. He emphasized the need for full respect for international law and protection for civilian shipping. Iran persists in blocking the strait, exacerbating global inflation and mounting domestic pressure on Trump ahead of midterm elections in November.

Guterres disclosed that a UN task force he established in March had devised a time-bound confidence-building mechanism initially centered on fertilizers and related raw materials, with potential expansion to other products. Under this initiative, the UN would serve as a neutral facilitator to mitigate immediate risks and facilitate smoother transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Importantly, this mechanism would not authorize passage through the strait or modify states' rights or obligations under international law, Guterres clarified. He added, "It can be operationalized swiftly." All parties involved are familiar with the operational details of the mechanism, according to Guterres. Furthermore, the UN chief called for an immediate halt to attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the Black Sea, an end to attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and around the Bab Al Mandeb, and the complete restoration of navigational rights in Hormuz.

Guterres warned that maritime chokepoints must never be used as tools of coercion, and the world's food supply must not fall victim to conflict's collateral damage.