UNITED NATIONS: Secretary General António Guterres announced on Monday that the United Nations is ready to launch a mechanism to facilitate the safe passage of fertilizer and other essential cargo through the Strait of Hormuz.

The proposal, unveiled at a news briefing in New York, is aimed at facilitating the movement of essential commodities through the strategic waterway, where shipping has now come to a near standstill.

Guterres said the mechanism was developed by a UN task force he established in March to address humanitarian needs arising from the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.

The effort is led by the Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and includes the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Chamber of Commerce.

The mechanism would initially cover fertilizers and related raw materials, but could be extended to other essential products. It would provide for the registration and verification of vessels carrying the designated cargo, along with monitoring and a deconfliction arrangement in Oman, Guterres said. “We have everything ready to do it,” he told reporters. But the mechanism can only be implemented if all countries involved in the conflict agree to accept it, he stressed.

The UN secretary general said the head of UNOPS had been in “intense contacts” with the countries involved, adding that all parties already had detailed knowledge of how the proposed mechanism would work.

The arrangement is intended to reduce immediate risks, make the transit of essential goods more orderly and predictable, and help rebuild confidence needed for diplomacy and de-escalation. Guterres emphasised that the mechanism would not authorise passage through the Strait of Hormuz or alter the rights or obligations of any member state under international law.

“Sovereign decisions remain entirely with participating member states,” he said, adding that the United Nations would serve as a neutral facilitator. His comments came in response to a question about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ claim that it controls the Strait of Hormuz.

“Let’s be clear, our position is that freedom of navigation must be respected in all circumstances,” Guterres said. If freedom of navigation could not immediately be restored, he said, the UN would be ready to facilitate the proposed arrangement — but only with the agreement of the states involved.

Guterres stressed that the initiative was not a substitute for the full restoration of navigational rights and freedoms or for the political solutions needed to end the conflicts.

The disruption of maritime routes is already having a wider impact on global trade and food security, he said.

Transits through the Strait of Hormuz have come to a near standstill, while oil prices remain about 33 per cent higher than at the start of the conflict. Global container rates are 84pc higher than a year ago, while the costs of fertilizers and other essential inputs are also rising sharply.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026