NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Thousands of sailors remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz amid increasing attacks on commercial ships, the United Nations’ top maritime official warned Sunday after Iran accused the U.S. military of using an international emergency radio channel to threaten civilian crews. The warning also came amid reports that 24 ships had been attacked in the waterway over about two weeks, underscoring growing concerns about maritime security in the region, according to the Financial Times. “The situation remains serious and critical when it comes to international shipping,” International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told Fox News Digital: “There is a double blockade and too many ships have been attacked, especially in recent days. The ‘vast majority’ of Iran’s attempted attacks on the Strait of Hormuz have been unsuccessful, CENTCOM spokesperson says. 24 ships have been attacked in the waterway for about two weeks, according to reports. (Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu via Getty) Images) “Seafarers have continued to die in these attacks and around 6,000 sailors remain trapped since the beginning of the conflict,” he warned, adding that his message was not to transit the Strait of Hormuz or put seafarers at risk “until we have guarantees for crews in the Persian Gulf.” “During such broadcasts, Iranian sailors have been approached in Persian with threatening, abusive and provocative language. “In a statement to Fox News Digital, US Central Command defended its enforcement of the naval blockade of Iranian ports. “The US naval blockade has been in effect for months and is professionally communicated to all international mariners,” CENTCOM said. “Ships that refuse to comply with blockade enforcement receive multiple warnings, with ample opportunities to comply.” Seyed Ali Mousavi, its ambassador to the IMO, distributed it to member states on the 9th. October, according to a copy reviewed by Fox News Digital. Tehran also accused US forces of turning the maritime security channel into an “instrument of military intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews.” The letter cited commercial vessels, shipping companies and maritime operators, but did not provide recordings, transcripts or specific details of the alleged exchanges. Fox News Digital could not independently verify the allegations. TO MILITARY BLOCKADE OF US PORTS Iran’s naval units simulate the rescue of a hijacked ship during joint exercises at the port of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan, Iran, on February 19, 2026. (Iranian Army/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) “Seafarers are not trained for combat, and they are not to blame for any conflict that is happening around the world,” he said Dominguez. “And we have seen this in various parts of the world where Channel 16, which should not be used for this type of communication, begins to receive messages that can be perceived as really threatening or that are outside the scope of its creation.” Safeguards are needed, although he did not announce a formal investigation. “Our role here at the IMO is that when those situations arise, we will examine any technical measures or any operational aspects that we need to clarify further within our regulatory framework,” he said, highlighting that Member States have the same rights to raise concerns, regardless of the conflict. “We have the responsibility, and I also have the duty, to circulate letters and notes that countries actually present when they are also affected.” RIGHT NOW? THIS IS WHAT SHIP TRAFFIC REALLY SHOWS The US naval blockade has been in place for months and is being professionally communicated to all international mariners, CENTCOM said. (US Navy) “We take all that information, we meet in different meetings of the organization and we keep the discussions going,” Dominguez added. “If it is shown that we probably need to improve our rules to avoid communication problems, or that we need to improve the knowledge of how these channels should be used, that is a role for us.” The IMO had recorded 100 confirmed maritime incidents across the region as of October 9, with 24 seafarers killed since the conflict began. 28. Dominguez also warned that fraudulent ship registrations and false flags have become major contributors to the danger. “What we’ve also seen now is an increase in fraudulent registrations with false flags that are taking the risk and acting as tankers to get goods in and out,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons we’re seeing an escalation.” And it is the irresponsible shipowners who are assuming the risk in order to trade and move some of the goods and cargo. 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)”For me, any case, any ship that is attacked, any life of a sailor that is lost, is a critical situation for me, because they are all relevant, they are all important.” Despite the confrontation, Dominguez said diplomatic channels with Iran remain open, although he has no direct contact with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Republic of Iran,” he said. “Of course, that is through diplomatic channels. I have no direct contact with the IRGC. “I have conversations with them and they respond to my messages. You know, information flows. What’s difficult is making final decisions because of the ongoing conflict.” CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digital has contacted the Iranian embassy for comment. Emma Bussey is a breaking news editor for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, he worked at The Telegraph with the US night team, in areas including foreign affairs, politics, news, sport and culture.
