IMO condemns Strait of Hormuz attacks
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 16, 2026
The attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz threaten to disrupt global oil and gas supplies, potentially driving up energy prices and increasing volatility in shipping markets. The breakdown of the ceasefire raises risks of further escalation, which could have severe economic consequences for the region and beyond.
The International — International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned overnight attacks on shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz that killed at least two seafarers, as fresh strikes were reported on July 14-15, 2026, in the escalating US-Iran war. The attacks broke the fragile interim truce established under the Pakistan-mediated US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed in mid-June. The IMO has been working with parties in the region since Israel and the United States began an intense bombing campaign against Iran in late February, drawing counterstrikes across the Gulf against US allies by Tehran. The escalation has seen multiple strikes on ships trying to navigate the Strait, a critical waterway that once carried 20% of oil and natural gas exports. The IMO urged restraint and dialogue, while UN human rights chief Volker Türk called for an immediate return to the ceasefire. The IMO has evacuated around 11,000 seafarers in June but paused the initiative on June 25 following a string of attacks, and is participating in a UN-led Task Force on the Strait of Hormuz established in March 2026.
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