UN says diplomatic deadlock stalls fertilizer corridor through Hormuz

Jorge Moreira da Silva, the UN under-secretary general and head of UNOPS, told reporters that the proposed UN-run vessel-tracking system for fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz is technically sound but stalled by diplomatic disagreements between the United States and Iran. He said the framework, which would register ships, coordinate deconfliction from a joint centre in Salalah and provide GPS routes, could be launched in about seven days after political consent.

Since the conflict began, Hormuz traffic fell from 20-30% of global fertilizer exports to less than 5% of previous levels, raising the risk that roughly 45 million people could face acute food insecurity. While a US-Iran framework agreement exists, recent retaliatory attacks have revived tensions, leaving the fertilizer corridor in limbo. The UN has implemented similar operations in Gaza, Yemen and the Black Sea, and hopes this week could bring a breakthrough for the Hormuz initiative.