New york: Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez affirmed that, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international law, coastal states are not permitted to close straits used for international navigation. Similarly, there is no legal basis that authorizes any state to impose fees, charges, or discriminatory conditions on international straits.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Dominguez made these remarks during a high-level United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting focused on the safety and protection of waterways in the maritime domain. He emphasized that "the principle of freedom of navigation is non-negotiable," underscoring the importance of allowing ships to conduct their commercial activities worldwide without hindrance and in accordance with international law.
Dominguez warned that any departure from these established and recognized principles would set a negative precedent and severely undermine the safety and stability of global shipping operations. He highlighted the IMO's efforts since 1968 in establishing a traffic separation scheme in the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime corridor jointly managed by Oman and Iran, which has ensured safe navigation for decades.
He further noted that this system is a mandatory mechanism under the IMO's International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The UNSC high-level meeting was convened at the invitation of the Kingdom of Bahrain, currently holding the UNSC's rotating presidency. The session witnessed the participation of the UN Secretary General and around 80 delegates.