A failure by the U.S. and Iran to reach an agreement on a UN-backed fertiliser shipping plan for the Strait of Hormuz within weeks could trigger a food security crisis in parts of Asia and Africa, a senior UN official has warned.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and coordinator of the UN Strait of Hormuz Task Force, said the proposed system could become operational within seven to 10 days of Washington and Tehran reaching an agreement.
“It’s absolutely crucial to get the deal in the next few weeks. Otherwise, we will miss the planting season,” he said in Bangkok on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings.
The UN established a task force in March to develop a safe passage mechanism for fertilisers and related raw materials through the strait. The plan is ready but still requires approval from the parties involved in the conflict and regional countries.
Under the proposal, a coordination centre in Oman would register vessels and organise passage, while UN monitors would work alongside local authorities to verify cargo. The mechanism could allow five ships to pass through the strait each day, Moreira da Silva said.
Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz carried roughly one-third of globally traded urea, the world's most widely used fertiliser, and nearly half of seaborne sulphur. The waterway is also a vital route for global oil shipments.
UN analysis cited by Moreira da Silva shows daily shipping traffic has plunged from nearly 130 vessels before the war to around five over the past week, a decline of more than 95 per cent.
Fertiliser prices have surged by 25 to 30 per cent since the conflict began at the end of February, he said. Rising fertiliser, energy and transport costs are making essential agricultural supplies harder to afford, threatening harvests and driving up food prices.
The World Food Programme estimates that nearly 45 million people could face acute food insecurity as a result of the disruption, according to Moreira da Silva.
An August report by the International Chamber of Commerce also warned that prolonged disruption could push up commodity prices by as much as 81 per cent for cereals, 66 per cent for oil crops and 30 per cent for animal products.
Attacks on cargo vessels in the Black Sea and threats from Iran-backed Houthi militants against a key Red Sea shipping route are adding to concerns over global food supplies.
Washington and Tehran have exchanged proposals through intermediaries since an interim ceasefire collapsed in June, but negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain deadlocked.
Iran has set conditions for reopening the waterway, while the U.S. insists that talks must address Tehran's nuclear programme from the outset.
Moreira da Silva said the UN mechanism could be implemented independently of broader negotiations, enabling fertiliser shipments to resume while diplomatic efforts continue.
“The immediate priority must be to reduce risks, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, build trust and confidence and restore safe and predictable movement through the Strait,” he said.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk...
A 62-year-old man died on Wednesday after floodwaters swept his car into the sea on the Greek island of Rhodes, as torrential rain flooded roads, s...
A failure by the U.S. and Iran to reach an agreement on a UN-backed fertiliser shipping plan for the Strait of Hormuz within weeks could trigger a ...
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Thousands of young Georgians leave the country each year in search of better economic opportunities, with many moving west. As questions grow over Georgia’s European path, AnewZ spoke to people who have emigrated about what it would take for them to return.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
A 62-year-old man died on Wednesday after floodwaters swept his car into the sea on the Greek island of Rhodes, as torrential rain flooded roads, stranded vehicles and disrupted transport across the island.
Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican says the tumour was detected during a routine health check, but its stage and whether it has spread remain unknown.
Greek students braved heavy rain to pitch tents outside parliament in Athens on Tuesday, demanding affordable housing and more education funding as rising living costs put university places beyond the reach of some students.
A former Ukrainian military officer has gone on trial in Germany, accused of orchestrating the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions that disrupted a major route for Russian gas supplies to Europe.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment