New York – UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued an urgent plea to the United States and Iran to lift current restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz. Addressing the UN Security Council, Guterres emphasised that the continued closure of this vital maritime artery is inflicting a severe and mounting humanitarian toll on the global population.

The Secretary-General stated that the disruption of shipping has severely impacted energy security and food supplies. He warned that if the passage remains blocked, millions of people in vulnerable regions, particularly in Africa and South Asia, risk being pushed into hunger and poverty. Guterres described the situation as the most significant disruption to global supply chains since the pandemic.

During his address, Guterres called for the immediate restoration of navigational freedoms, insisting that ships must be allowed to pass without tolls or discrimination. He urged all parties to choose dialogue over confrontation to allow the global economy to breathe and to prevent a burgeoning humanitarian disaster.