The United Nations has raised fresh alarm over the fallout of any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that global supplies, especially food and fertilisers, could be hit if tensions in West Asia worsen. Even as the UN moved to set up a task force to deal with the situation, US President Donald Trump stirred controversy with his “Strait of Trump” remark and issued fresh warnings to Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical oil route, sits at the centre of global energy and trade flows. Any blockage or restriction here could ripple across economies, supply chains, and humanitarian operations worldwide.
UN sets up task force as Hormuz tensions rise
According to a UN note shared by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has created a specialised task force to tackle emerging challenges in the waterway.
The group will be led by Jorge Moreira da Silva and include representatives from bodies such as UNCTAD, the International Maritime Organisation and the International Chamber of Commerce.
Its main job is to design technical solutions to keep humanitarian and essential trade moving through the strait. The UN said the plan draws from earlier mechanisms used in Yemen, the Black Sea grain corridor and Gaza, with a focus on enabling fertiliser shipments and related materials.
Officials said the mechanism would be developed in consultation with member states, respecting national sovereignty and existing international laws. If it works, the UN believes it could also build trust and support wider diplomatic efforts to ease the conflict.
Political outreach will be led by Jean Arnault, who is tasked with engaging countries involved in the crisis.
Trump ups pressure on Iran, mixes threats with talks
At an event in Florida, Trump referred to the Strait of Hormuz as the “Strait of Trump”, later insisting it was not a slip. He also claimed Iran was under pressure and ready to negotiate.
“They have to open up the Strait of Trump. I mean, Hormuz. Excuse me, I’m so sorry. Such a terrible mistake. The fake news will say ‘he accidentally said it’. Now there are no accidents with me. Not too many,” said at the Future Investment Initiative Priority Summit.
“They’re begging to make a deal,” he said, adding that discussions were ongoing and linked to Iran allowing full access through the strait.
“They’re being hit so hard. Anybody would be negotiating. They are negotiating. They’re begging to make a deal. They’re begging to make a deal. Turned out I was right. They were negotiating, which they admitted two days later. And in order to make up for their misstatement, ‘We’re going to send you eight ships of oil.’ And the following day, I saw on one of the networks there were eight ships of oil coming out of Iran. And then they actually said, ‘We’re going to add an extra two.’ And they added an extra two. We had 10 ships. And then people realised we were actually negotiating. We’re negotiating now. And it would be great if we could do something, but they have to open it up,” the US President said.
Trump warned that if the waterway is not reopened soon, the US could target Iran’s energy infrastructure. However, he has pushed back the deadline for action to April 6, citing continuing talks.
He also outlined a sweeping military posture, saying thousands of targets in Iran remained and could be hit quickly if needed. Trump claimed US forces had intercepted missiles aimed at an aircraft carrier and said Iran’s air defence had been significantly weakened.
In separate remarks reported by IANS, Trump described Iran as “being decimated” and said US operations had crippled its military capabilities, forcing Tehran towards negotiations.
“On Iran, they are being decimated. They are talking, we are talking now. They want to make a deal. Very simply, our military is the greatest in the world by far. Iran is being decimated,” Trump told the media after arriving on Air Force One.
Global concerns grow over shipping and navigation
The Group of Seven (G7) nations have also stepped in, stressing the need to ensure safe and uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law.
Meanwhile, a report by Lloyd’s List claimed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had effectively introduced a controlled transit system in the strait, requiring ships to submit documents and move under escort.
India, however, dismissed reports of any toll or levy on ships, calling such claims baseless and reiterating that international rules guarantee freedom of navigation in the corridor.