Strait of Hormuz and Middle East waters: 25 seafarers dead in 134 incidents, UN told

Merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz ran into more trouble in October than in any month since the Gulf war began in February, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari told the Security Council in New York on Friday, 13 November. Citing International Maritime Organization figures, he said 134 incidents had been logged in the strait and other Middle East seas up to 11 November, and 25 seafarers had died.

Gulf energy exports may have largely recovered, Khiari said, but cargo volumes remain below pre-war levels, and he cautioned against treating that as a sign things were normal again. UK Maritime Trade Operations data cited by the UN puts transits through the strait about 65 per cent down.

Bahrain requested the meeting, nearly nine months after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February set off the conflict. The Council passed resolution 2817 in March, condemning Iranian attacks on neighbours and calling for free navigation; in April, China and Russia vetoed a separate text on Hormuz shipping. Pakistan mediated a 60-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran in June, but it ran out in August with no peace agreement.

Gulf states and Iran trade blame

Speaking for the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahrain’s envoy said some 1,600 ships had faced disruption in the strait, with over 23,000 seafarers left stranded. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi counted over 7,000 Iranian missiles and drones fired at member states since 28 February. The US delegate accused Iran of mining the waterway unlawfully, and Britain’s ambassador, Sarah MacIntosh, said it must be reopened.

Iran’s representative dismissed resolution 2817 as politically motivated. He blamed the US and Israeli strikes of June 2025 and February 2026, which he said killed 5,000 Iranians, 254 of them children, accused some Gulf states of lending their territory and airspace, and sought full reparation.

Rules for Indian crews

India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration issued Circular 47 of 2026 on 5 August in place of a 15 July order. Owners, managers and recruitment agencies sending Indian seafarers through the strait must get each sailor’s consent and inform the directorate’s communication centre. Crews needing help can call or WhatsApp the centre on +91 86575 49760, or the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram on +91 124 2208385.