U.N. sets up task force to safeguard fertilizer, aid shipments through Strait of Hormuz

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U.N. sets up task force to safeguard fertilizer, aid shipments through Strait of Hormuz

2026-03-28 15:36 Last Updated At：18:27

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has established a special task force to address risks to humanitarian and agricultural supply chains posed by potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, his spokesman said on Friday.

Iran effectively blocked the critical shipping lane that handles about a fifth of the world's oil shipments and nearly a third of global fertilizer trade following the February 28 U.S.-Israeli surprise airstrikes on the Middle East country.

"As the conflict in the Middle East unfolds and threatens to intensify, disruptions in the maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz risk creating a ripple effect impacting humanitarian needs and agricultural production in the coming months. While the secretary-general is committed to making every effort to achieve a comprehensive and durable settlement of the conflict, immediate action is essential to mitigate these consequences. To address these challenges, the secretary-general has established a dedicated task force," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman.

Dujarric told reporters the group will be led by Under Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the U.N. Office of Project Services, and will include representatives from UNCTAD, the International Maritime Organization and the International Chamber of Commerce.

Its primary focus would be developing technical mechanisms to meet humanitarian needs in the strait, and the mechanism would aim to facilitate fertilizer trade, including raw materials, Dujarric said.

"The primary focus of this task force is to develop and propose technical mechanisms specifically designed to meet humanitarian needs in the Strait of Hormuz. Drawing inspiration from relevant UN initiatives, including the UN Verification, Inspection and Monitoring Mechanism for Yemen, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and the existing UN2720 Mechanism for Gaza, this new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz aims to facilitate fertilizer trade, including the movement of raw materials. The mechanism's operationalization will be done in close consultation with relevant member states, with full respect for national sovereignty and established international legal frameworks," said Dujarric.

Also on Friday, permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ali Bahreini, announced on social media that Iran, at the U.N.'s request, would facilitate and accelerate the safe transit of humanitarian cargo ships through the strait.

It's time for Iran to withdraw from NPT: spokesman

The Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei said Friday that it's time for Iran to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as the treaty has failed to protect Iran's nuclear facilities from the ongoing U.S. and Israeli attacks.

In a post on social media platform X, Rezaei said there is no benefit for Iran to remain part of the pact.

He noted that the treaty has failed to protect Iran's nuclear facilities from attacks, and that the relevant international documents and agreements have been completely ignored.

Rezaei reaffirmed that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and this policy has not changed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeated its calls for restraint in the Middle East after Israel struck two Iranian nuclear facilities, including a uranium processing plant.