The Iranian delegation at the 138th session of the IMO Council in London criticized the organization’s incomplete and unbalanced reports on maritime security and seafarer protection, calling for an impartial assessment of threats to maritime safety.
The delegation stressed that IMO reports should not overlook the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and military attacks on vessels and the country’s critical maritime safety infrastructure.
It also called for the organization's future reports to fairly reflect Iran’s legal positions, supported by documents submitted to Council members.
Emphasizing that seafarer protection should not be selective, the Iranian delegation called for equal treatment of all seafarers, regardless of nationality or political differences. In this regard, it raised concerns over the difficult conditions facing Iranian seafarers near Sri Lanka and called for urgent and non-discriminatory action.
The Iranian delegation also protested the repetition of allegations against Iran in the IMO Secretary-General’s report, reiterating its rejection of the May resolution adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee as political and legally unfounded.
The delegation called for transparent, comprehensive and impartial reporting on maritime threats and urgent protection for affected seafarers, particularly Iranians, holding US and Israeli military aggression and the naval blockade of Iran responsible for the current crisis.
The 138th session of the Council is being held in person at the IMO Headquarters, with hybrid facilities for remote participation, from Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November.
