The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) stated that two shipping lanes exist through the Strait of Hormuz — one controlled by Iran and the other by the United States and Oman — and that most vessels use the northern route under Iranian control. The remarks, reported by the source Rak Neto, offer a rare framework for the contested waterway as a dual-controlled passage rather than a blockade.
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) described the Strait of Hormuz as having two distinct shipping lanes — one under Iranian control and the other jointly managed by the United States and Oman — with most maritime traffic using the Iran-controlled northern route. The statement, carried by the source Rak Neto on Friday evening, frames the strategic waterway's current status as one of parallel governance rather than a blockade.
The remarks come amid an ongoing standoff between Iran and the US over freedom of navigation in the strait. In recent weeks, Iran has asserted its authority over the waterway, with its chief of staff claiming full control and warning that no vessel can pass without Tehran's permission. As The Zioneer reported earlier this week, Iranian state media have also claimed the strait remains closed to foreign ships, though the US disputes this. The IMO chief's characterization offers a more nuanced picture — not a full closure, but a divided system where most shipping continues under Iran's supervision. The southern route, under US-Omani control, has seen limited use.
It remains unclear whether the IMO statement represents a formal position or a descriptive observation about the de facto situation in the strait. The Telegram report provides no additional context on whether the IMO is mediating or monitoring the dispute.
- DevelopingOman coordinates with IMO on temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping lane
- DevelopingIranian FM: Strait of Hormuz is not international waters, but a shared maritime route with Oman
- StrongIranian chief of staff claims full control of Strait of Hormuz, threatens shipping
- DevelopingIranian Foreign Ministry: Shipping in Strait of Hormuz governed by end-of-war memorandum with Oman
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