ISTANBUL
Qatar called Thursday for the protection of sailors and safeguarding international maritime navigation amid Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing an extraordinary meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IOM) in London, Qatar’s Ambassador to the UK, Abdullah bin Mohammed, condemned Iranian attacks on Qatar and Arab countries as a “violation of state sovereignty and a breach of the principles of the United Nations Charter."
“These attacks directly affect the security and safety of maritime navigation, endanger the lives of innocent sailors and threaten the stability of one of the world’s most vital maritime routes,” he added in his comments carried by a Foreign Ministry statement.
He stressed the need “to protect sailors and safeguard international maritime security and freedom of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law.”
The diplomat affirmed Qatar’s support for efforts by the IOM and member states to enhance maritime safety and security.
On Thursday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a vessel was struck by a projectile about four nautical miles east of Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar.
Another vessel caught fire after being hit by a projectile about 11 nautical miles east of the port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates.
Regional escalation has intensified since Israel and the US launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks across the region and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route that normally handles about 20 million barrels per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade, disrupting global energy markets.
*Writing By Khaled Badr