Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Three seafarers were killed in a strike on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello near Oman's coast in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident is part of ongoing hostilities involving the United States and Iran, with US sources reporting a blockade enforcement.
The incident brings confirmed seafarer fatalities to 14 in the Strait of Hormuz since late February. The UN maritime agency has verified 46 attacks on international vessels during this period.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route linking the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea, situated between Iran, Oman, and the UAE.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalation and urged all parties to uphold the ceasefire to prevent a possible resurgence of conflict, warning of regional and global consequences, especially for vulnerable nations.
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, condemned the attacks as unacceptable acts that threaten seafarers’ lives and international shipping safety.
The UN maritime agency noted that about 20,000 seafarers on commercial and offshore vessels in the Gulf region remain at risk of severe security threats, psychological stress, and, in some cases, detention connected to the conflict.
Beyond energy implications, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu warned that ongoing disruption or closure of the Strait poses a global food security risk. The waterway handles about 35% of global crude oil exports, 20% of liquefied natural gas, and 20–30% of global fertilizer exports.