Diplomatic Push Under Way on Hormuz Fertiliser Proposal, UN Says

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The Strait of Hormuz.

A diplomatic initiative is under way on a United Nations–led proposal aimed at ensuring the safe passage of fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the UN said on Monday, with a source familiar with the discussions highlighting growing urgency amid supply shortages.

The six weeks of fighting sparked by U.S.–Israeli joint strikes on Iran, which spread to Lebanon and the Gulf, have killed thousands across the Middle East and severely disrupted global supply chains following a near-total halt to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. military said it will begin a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, after weekend talks to end the conflict failed, further jeopardising a fragile two-week ceasefire.

A source involved in the UN-led initiative told Reuters that there is an urgent need for a solution, noting that some farmers in Latin America are already skipping second corn plantings, while African growers face a critical window, with severe yield losses likely if fertiliser supplies are not restored.

"Extensive meetings" have been ‌held ⁠in New York over the past two weeks on the design and operationalisation of the mechanism with the relevant member states, Juliette Touma, UNOPS director of communications, told Reuters.

The meetings, led by Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, are ongoing, Touma said.

The proposed mechanism aims to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels carrying fertilisers and related materials through the Strait of Hormuz, while mitigating potential humanitarian consequences for fertiliser-dependent countries in Asia and Africa, she added.

The Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that a more than 90% drop in tanker traffic is threatening agricultural production and global food security.

Businesses are seeking a framework that would restore freedom of navigation without the need for naval escorts or tolls, a source familiar with the discussions said, adding that the initiative could eventually be expanded to cover other categories of goods.

Source: Reuters



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