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Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, responds to a question from Rudaw on April 20, 2026. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Nations on Monday reiterated its concern over restrictions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as well as “maritime incidents” that have been recorded, urging the “full restoration” of international navigation rights, which it said should be upheld by all sides.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, told Rudaw’s Namo Abdulla, “We've seen a lot of activity and frankly a lot of confusion about the status of the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that “what is clear for us is that the Secretary General continues to be concerned by the restrictions that are put in place as well as the maritime incidents” that have been recorded.
The US and Israel launched a preemptive air campaign on February 28, targeting more than 17,000 sites across Iran over six weeks of hostilities before the warring sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated April 8 ceasefire to halt fighting for two weeks and pursue talks.
While the first round of discussions ended without a final agreement on April 11, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that American negotiators would head to Islamabad on Monday evening for second-round talks to reach a deal with Iran, urging Tehran to accept it or face serious consequences.
During the six-week Iran war, Tehran effectively restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz as part of its response to the US-Israeli joint campaign. Since the ceasefire came into effect in early April, the strategic waterway has emerged as a flashpoint for dueling restrictions and military tensions.
The Iranian government, primarily through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has on several occasions declared the closure of the Strait, citing defensive measures against what it terms as Western aggression and targeting vessels linked to the US, Israel, or their regional partners.
The US has also imposed maritime restrictions aimed at pressuring Iran’s economy, with Central Command and US naval assets intercepting Iranian-flagged vessels and “shadow fleet” tankers suspected of transporting Iranian petroleum products.
For his part, Dujarric relayed that the UN’s position remains clear, noting, “We need to see full restoration of international navigational rights and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and that needs to be respected by all parties.”
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