{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1684848,
        "msgid": "imo-secretary-general-does-not-rule-out-mine-risks-in-strait-of-hormuz-1776448331",
        "date": "2026-04-17 23:36:32",
        "title": "IMO Secretary-General Does Not Rule Out Mine Risks in Strait of Hormuz",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Trade",
        "summary": "The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has acknowledged reports of potential mines in the Strait of Hormuz amid an ongoing regional crisis triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, but stated he has no official confirmation. He emphasised the need to verify the absence of navigation threats before resuming normal shipping, highlighting the humanitarian risks to over 20,000 crew members on nearly 2,000 vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the US-imposed blockade. Dominguez supported the restoration of 1968 navigation rules jointly managed by Iran and Oman, criticising unilateral changes as violations of international law including UNCLOS, and outlined plans for a gradual evacuation and restoration of traffic post-crisis.",
        "content": "<p>Moscow (ANTARA) - The Secretary-General of the International Maritime\nOrganization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, stated that he has no official\nconfirmation regarding mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but acknowledged\nthe risk in the midst of the ongoing crisis in the region.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are reports about the risk of mines, particularly in the\ncorridor areas recognised by our organisation,\u201d Dominguez said in an\ninterview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut up to today, I have not received official confirmation about the\npresence of mines in that area,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>The Secretary-General said that before normal ship traffic through\nthe strait can resume, the absence of navigation threats must first be\nverified.<\/p>\n<p>He added that even a temporary ceasefire does not solve the problem\nby itself, as shipping requires security guarantees and continuity of\nexisting transit rules.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe situation remains critical, especially for the 20,000 crew\nmembers on nearly 2,000 ships in the Persian Gulf that cannot pass\nthrough the strait,\u201d Dominguez said.<\/p>\n<p>The longer the blockade continues, the more acute the humanitarian\nrisks become for the crew, particularly regarding supplies of food,\nwater, and fuel.<\/p>\n<p>Countries in the region are doing what they can to help the\nseafarers, including providing medical care, he added.<\/p>\n<p>Dominguez said the IMO has prepared mechanisms to evacuate ships from\nthe Gulf after the crisis ends.<\/p>\n<p>He said the evacuation will be carried out gradually, with priority\nships identified based on the urgency of crew rotation and the type of\ncargo.<\/p>\n<p>The evacuation process itself could take several weeks, after which\ntraffic through the strait will be restored gradually.<\/p>\n<p>The IMO Secretary-General also said the organisation supports the\nreturn to the 1968 navigation rules, regarding joint management by Iran\nand Oman, which remains the only recognised basis for safe shipping\nthrough the strait.<\/p>\n<p>He criticised unilateral changes to navigation as violations of\ninternational law and rejected the imposition of transit fees, adding\nthat freedom of navigation through international straits is enshrined in\ninternational law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea\n(UNCLOS).<\/p>\n<p>The United States and Israel launched attacks on several targets in\nIran on 28 February, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths.<\/p>\n<p>On 8 April, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. The\nfirst round of negotiations, which then took place in Islamabad, ended\nwithout any breakthroughs.<\/p>\n<p>However, there have been no reports of the resumption of hostilities,\nalthough the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Sputnik\/RIA Novosti<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/imo-secretary-general-does-not-rule-out-mine-risks-in-strait-of-hormuz-1776448331",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}