The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has moved deeper into the international spotlight after a group of 80 countries called for the immediate restoration of safe maritime passage and condemned attacks linked to Iran and the Houthi movement.
The joint statement was delivered in New York by Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on September 24, during the United Nations General Assembly period. The statement focused on Iran’s actions in the region, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and shipping in the Red Sea, and the wider risks facing international trade and energy security.
The development comes at a time when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply. International maritime authorities have also recorded a series of attacks and damage involving commercial vessels in and around the waterway.
80 Countries Call for Hormuz to Reopen
The central demand from the group of countries was straightforward: commercial vessels should be able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz safely, securely and without additional tolls, conditions or charges.
The joint statement said Iran’s actions in the waterway were creating concerns over international security and navigational rights. It also called for the restoration of what it described as safe and unimpeded maritime transit under international law.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes. Any prolonged disruption can affect oil transportation, shipping costs, supply chains and energy markets well beyond the Middle East.
The International Maritime Organization has been closely monitoring the situation and has warned about the risks facing seafarers and commercial shipping. Around 20,000 seafarers, port workers and offshore personnel have been affected by the disruption in the region.
UN Resolution 2817 Adds to the Pressure on Iran
The latest joint statement also referred to the existing international framework concerning Iran’s attacks on neighbouring countries.
The relevant Security Council resolution is Resolution 2817, adopted on March 11, 2026, with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions. The resolution condemned Iranian attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
The resolution also called on Iran to immediately stop attacks and threats against neighbouring states. It specifically addressed freedom of navigation, including around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandab, and called on Iran not to interfere with international navigation.
This is an important distinction from the wording in the original statement: the number 2817, rather than 2217, is the applicable 2026 Security Council resolution.
Iran has rejected the international criticism and has presented its actions within the broader context of the war involving the United States and Israel. Tehran has argued that it is acting in self-defence and has challenged the interpretation of Resolution 2817.
Shipping Risks Are Growing Around Oman
The diplomatic pressure comes alongside a series of incidents involving commercial vessels.
According to the International Maritime Organization, a vessel named CAPE DAO was damaged on September 23 around 15 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, with one seafarer killed. The IMO’s confirmed incident list also records several other damaged vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The IMO said earlier in September that it had verified 80 attacks on merchant vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the current conflict began, resulting in at least 22 seafarer deaths.
These incidents have created an increasingly difficult environment for shipping companies. Even when vessels continue moving through the region, operators face higher insurance, security and transportation costs.
The disruption is therefore not only a military or diplomatic issue. It is also becoming a major commercial and humanitarian concern.
Houthi Attacks Add Pressure on Saudi Arabia
The joint statement also condemned renewed Houthi attacks in Yemen and their strikes against Saudi Arabia.
According to the statement delivered at the UN, six ballistic missiles were launched toward Saudi Arabia on the same day. The statement also referred to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and their advance toward the Bab el-Mandab area.
The Houthi advance has become particularly significant because Bab el-Mandab connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international shipping.
Recent reporting has shown that Houthi forces have expanded their control in parts of western and southern Yemen, increasing concerns over the security of commercial vessels using the Red Sea and surrounding waters.
The situation creates a difficult combination: Hormuz is facing disruption on one side of the region, while Bab el-Mandab and the Red Sea are under separate security pressure.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters to the Global Economy
STRAIT OF HORMUZ (May 11, 2012) The guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) transit the Strait of Hormuz. Both ships are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex R. Forster/Released)
The importance of Hormuz goes far beyond the countries surrounding the Persian Gulf.
Large volumes of oil and other energy products normally pass through the waterway. When traffic falls, traders and shipping companies must look for alternative routes or adopt more complicated transportation arrangements.
Recent shipping data shows just how significant the decline has been. Reuters reported that only 17 commodity vessels crossed Hormuz over one weekend, compared with 37 the previous week and a pre-conflict average of about 125 large commercial vessels per day.
Even when some tankers continue operating, the additional risks can raise freight rates and insurance costs. Those expenses can eventually feed into the prices paid by consumers and businesses.
The impact can also spread to countries that are geographically far from the Middle East because energy prices influence transportation, manufacturing, food production and electricity costs.
Food and Energy Security Are Also at Risk
The countries behind the joint statement warned that continued disruption of major trade routes could create consequences beyond shipping itself.
Energy markets are especially sensitive to developments around Hormuz because the region remains central to global oil supplies. A prolonged reduction in shipments can put pressure on prices and make governments and businesses more cautious about future supplies.
The United Nations and international maritime authorities have repeatedly highlighted the broader consequences of disrupting commercial shipping.
For developing countries that rely heavily on imported fuel and food, higher transportation and energy costs can become particularly difficult to absorb.
The concern is therefore not limited to whether individual ships can pass through Hormuz. It is also about whether global supply chains can continue operating at predictable costs.
Diplomacy Remains Possible Despite the Escalation
Despite the strong language in the joint statement, Bahrain’s foreign minister also indicated that diplomatic channels remain open.
Asked whether Bahrain or other Gulf countries had maintained back-channel contacts with Iran, he said diplomacy remains part of the process and that political solutions are still the objective.
That position is significant because the latest international pressure does not automatically mean that diplomatic options have disappeared.
Iran and several regional governments have conflicting positions over security, navigation and military activity. However, the economic cost of prolonged disruption provides another reason for countries to seek a way to restore maritime stability.
The question is whether those diplomatic channels can produce practical steps that reduce attacks and allow commercial shipping to resume safely.
Global Shipping Faces a Difficult Period
The latest UN statement highlights how closely regional security and global commerce have become connected.
The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandab are geographically separate waterways, but disruptions in both can create pressure on the same global shipping system.
The IMO’s continuing monitoring of vessel incidents shows that the risks are not theoretical. Commercial ships and their crews have already been affected, while shipping companies are dealing with uncertainty over routes and security conditions.
The 80-country statement therefore represents another diplomatic effort to put freedom of navigation and commercial shipping at the centre of the international response.
At the same time, the disagreement with Iran remains unresolved. Tehran disputes the accusations against it and says its actions are connected to the wider conflict and its right to self-defence.
For now, the situation remains dependent on both military developments and diplomatic efforts.
A Regional Crisis With Global Consequences
The UNGA development shows that the conflict around Iran is no longer being viewed only through the lens of military confrontation.
The safety of merchant ships, energy supplies, international trade and freedom of navigation have all become major parts of the discussion.
With 80 countries calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, continued Houthi attacks and ongoing vessel incidents, pressure is building for a solution that can restore maritime security.
Whether that comes through direct negotiations, regional diplomacy or broader international arrangements remains uncertain.
What is clear is that the longer the disruption continues, the greater the potential impact on shipping, energy markets and global supply chains. For governments, businesses and millions of consumers, the security of these critical waterways has become an issue with consequences far beyond the Middle East.