The United States has called on the United Nations to rally international condemnation against Iran and ensure the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on Tuesday, while addressing journalists, said Iran must not be allowed to dictate access to the strategic waterway, following reports of attacks on vessels, according to Reuters.
On Monday, the US Central Command said Iran fired cruise missiles and drones, and deployed small boats against US-flagged ships in the strait, noting that no vessels were hit and no injuries were recorded.
Iran, however, described the strikes as “warning shots” near hostile vessels after US destroyers allegedly attempted to approach Hormuz, warning that such moves would be considered a violation of the ceasefire.
On the same day, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates reported strikes on ships in the channel.
Iran also accused the US of killing five civilians in the strait, claiming its forces targeted passenger vessels rather than boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as alleged by Washington.
About a quarter of the world’s oil trade, along with significant volumes of fuel and fertiliser, passes through the narrow seaway.
Geographically, Iran exercises de facto control over the strait, though this has been contested by the US, particularly after Washington launched a joint attack with Israel against Iran in February.
Iran subsequently moved to block the waterway, prompting US President Donald Trump to order a naval blockade against the Islamic Republic.
Trump said he directed the US Navy to shoot any vessel attempting to deploy mines in the strait.
Rubio, in his address, said Iran was “unlawfully, criminally, and illegally taking possession of an international waterway, and blowing up commercial vessels and putting mines in the water.
“I don’t know if people appreciate how outrageous this is, how unacceptable it is, that any country would fire at and try to sink commercial vessels or put mines in the water. Both of these things are illegal”.
The Secretary of State added that the US would take the matter to the UN.
“All we’re asking them to do is to condemn it, to call on Iran to stop attacking ships, to remove these mines, and to allow humanitarian relief to pass through because there’s aid that is trapped. That’s it. This is a very modest request.
“And if you’re telling me that the international community and hundreds of countries cannot rally behind that, then I don’t know what the utility of the UN system is if it can’t even solve something as straightforward as that,” he said.
Iran had offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict if the US lifts its blockade on the waterway. Trump acknowledged receipt of the proposal but did not indicate acceptance.
Meanwhile, the US has fast-tracked billions of dollars in arms sales to Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, according to statements released by the State Department.