Three seafarers killed in Hormuz strike as UN warns of widening fallout
The latest strike, which the United States said had been carried out as part of its blockade enforcement operations, involved the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello
The latest strike, which the United States said had been carried out as part of its blockade enforcement operations, involved the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello near the coast of Oman. Tit-for-tat strikes by the US and Iran following the apparent suspension of negotiations to end the war threaten to accelerate, with President Trump on social media promising to hit Iran “very hard” and “assume total control of their oil and gas markets.” The UN Secretary-General is “deeply concerned” by the continuing escalation, his spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday. António Guterres urged all parties to return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and warned that any further deterioration could trigger “a full resumption of the conflict, with unpredictable consequences for the region and the world, especially the most vulnerable countries.” © NASA/GSFC/Jacques Descloitres Attacks ‘simply unacceptable’ According to UN maritime agency, the latest incident brings the number of confirmed seafarer fatalities to 14 since the crisis began on 28 February. The agency has verified 46 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz during that period. International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez strongly condemned the attack, calling them “simply unacceptable.” “I strongly condemn any act from any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping,” he said.
Under pressure Beyond the immediate loss of life, the UN maritime agency warns that thousands of civilian seafarers remain exposed to mounting risks. Across the wider Gulf region, roughly 20,000 seafarers are estimated to remain aboard commercial and offshore vessels. IMO says many are operating under sustained security threats and severe psychological pressure, while some crews remain detained by parties to the conflict. © IFAD/Ibrahima Kebe Diallo ‘A global food security risk’ While the Strait of Hormuz is often viewed through the lens of energy markets, the consequences of an uptick in fighting extend far beyond oil. Earlier this week, UN Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu said the closure and disruption of the waterway represented “a global food security risk.” Around 35 per cent of global crude oil exports, 20 per cent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, between 20 and 30 per cent of global fertilizer exports and roughly half of global sulphur exports pass through the narrow maritime corridor, he noted. “These flows are essential for global food production,” Mr. Qu said. The greatest danger, FAO warned at the outset of the crisis, was not an immediate shortage of food but a “delayed shock” to fertilizer supplies and agricultural production.
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