NEW YORK (VINnews) — The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, warned that even military naval escorts cannot fully guarantee the safety of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

In an interview with the Financial Times published Tuesday, Dominguez said that while a military presence can reduce risks, it does not solve the problem:“The risk still exists, and ships and sailors could be harmed.” According to him, military escort is not a long-term or stable solution for keeping the shipping route open.

Since the outbreak of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, the strait,through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes, has been almost completely shut down. According to reports, Iran has attacked at least 18 vessels in the area, and the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has even declared the strait “closed.”

The situation is already affecting the global economy: oil prices have surpassed $100 per barrel, raising concerns that the economic crisis could worsen. Despite statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about providing military escorts for commercial ships, such a move has not yet been implemented in practice.

Dominguez explained that the geographic conditions make defense particularly difficult: the strait is extremely narrow—only about 33 km wide at certain points—and the actual shipping lanes are much narrower. In addition, the mountains on the Iranian side give attackers a height advantage and the ability to strike quickly.

“We are essentially secondary victims of a conflict unrelated to shipping,” he said. At the same time, the organization is also concerned about ships stranded in the area. Some are beginning to suffer from shortages of food, water, and fuel. The organization has already reached out to shipping companies to gather information on supply conditions and provide assistance to vessels in distress.

“The situation is very worrying,” Dominguez added. “Ships cannot operate freely, and access to ports is also limited due to the attacks.” In the past two weeks, only a few dozen ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz—a sharp drop compared to normal times.

Dominguez called on shipping companies to avoid sailing in the area until the situation calms down:
“Do not risk crews and vessels. We must lower the flames before taking such risks.”