Six Arab nations demand Iran withdraw Hormuz claims in UN letter

Gulf States and Jordan Submit UN Letter Rejecting Iran’s Hormuz Claims

Six Arab nations have sent a joint letter to the United Nations categorically rejecting Iran’s assertions of new authority over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating diplomatic pressure on Tehran over its ongoing disruption of one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors.

A Unified Front at the UN

The letter, submitted on Wednesday to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Security Council, was signed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, according to the Bahrain News Agency. The coalition condemned what it described as Tehran’s “escalation” and rejected any Iranian claims to unilateral “management” or new “legal rules” over the strait.iranintl

“No single country may claim the right to impose unilateral administration” over the waterway, the countries stated. The letter outlined six demands, including the immediate withdrawal of Iran’s administrative claims, the unconditional reopening of the strait, and compensation for damages caused by Iranian actions.dailyqudrat

The statement also referenced a drone attack on an ADNOC-operated tanker, the M.V. Barakah, which the UAE accused Iran of carrying out in early May using two drones as the vessel transited the strait. The coalition described the strike as a “flagrant violation” of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, adopted in March 2026, which condemns Iranian attacks on Gulf states and prohibits interference with navigation.marineinsight

An Escalating Crisis

The Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since late February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared in late April that Tehran would introduce “new legal frameworks and management policies” for the strait, framing the move as economically beneficial for the region. Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia claimed the control mechanisms could generate revenue exceeding Iran’s oil exports.indiatimes

Iran has since required vessels to fill out a “Vessel Information Declaration” and begun charging tolls reportedly exceeding $1 million per ship, according to CNN. The International Maritime Organization reported in April that roughly 20,000 mariners and 2,000 ships were stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the disruptions.wikipedia

Diplomatic Momentum

The letter comes amid broader efforts to pressure Tehran at the Security Council. A US-Bahrain draft resolution demanding Iran reopen the strait has attracted more than 110 co-sponsors — roughly two-thirds of UN member states. However, Russia and China have expressed “serious concerns” about the text, raising uncertainty over whether it can avoid another veto after the two countries blocked a previous resolution in late March.thenationalnews

Iran has not publicly responded to the latest joint letter. Tehran’s UN envoy previously demanded the six Arab states pay compensation to Iran, accusing them of facilitating US-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.azernews