Dubai: Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez, stated that no country has the right to close the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. During a press conference, Dominguez emphasized that, under international law, nations cannot prohibit the right of safe passage or freedom of navigation through international straits used for international transit.

According to Qatar News Agency, Dominguez downplayed the potential impact of the US blockade on maritime traffic, pointing out the limited number of ships that can transit the strait. He asserted that an additional blockade would not significantly worsen the situation, noting that de-escalation is key to containing the crisis and restoring maritime traffic to its previous state.

Dominguez also highlighted that imposing transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz is contrary to international maritime law and customary law. He stressed that states should avoid such actions to prevent setting a dangerous precedent.

The IMO Secretary-General's comments follow the United States' announcement of a blockade on Iranian ports after the collapse of negotiations with Iran in Islamabad. Before the conflict in the Middle East, involving US-Israeli strikes on Iran, a significant portion of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Due to the war, traffic in the vital waterway has decreased by 90 percent, as reported by the maritime data firm Lloyds List Intelligence.