LONDON: In a significant diplomatic development, Iran’s proposal to host a prestigious maritime event in October has been decisively turned down. The rejection came after a joint initiative led by the United States to withdraw Iran’s bid received overwhelming support in a vote at the United Nations shipping agency’s Council.
A spokesperson for the agency made this announcement on Thursday, underscoring the growing rift between Washington and Tehran.
The recent incident that further strained the already delicate relations between the two nations was Iran’s audacious attempt to seize the Richmond Voyager tanker. The vessel, managed by the prominent US oil major Chevron, encountered the threat while traversing international waters in the Gulf earlier this month. Such brazen actions by Iran have heightened tensions in the region and provided the impetus for the US-led proposal to quash Iran’s hopes of hosting the maritime event, according to Arab News.
Iran’s proposal
Iran’s proposal involved hosting a shipping event in Tehran later this year, in conjunction with the annual maritime day organized by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO). Interestingly, the IMO’s executive Council had initially approved Iran’s proposal back in 2015. However, the dynamics have since shifted, and the US, with support from Britain, moved to undo the previous decision.
Presenting a working paper to the IMO’s Council, the US articulated its case for rescinding Iran’s hosting privileges. Citing alarming statistics, the paper highlighted that in the past two years, Iran had engaged in hostile actions against over 20 commercial vessels. Iran’s unabashed attempts to seize these vessels without any justification or warning were deeply concerning.
The situation reached a boiling point when the Richmond Voyager faced live fire from Iranian forces, putting the lives of the crew at grave risk. This incident, in particular, played a significant role in prompting the proposal against Iran’s bid.
In a crucial vote, a majority of the IMO Council’s member countries lent their support to the US-led initiative on Thursday, resulting in the rescission of Iran’s offer to host the maritime event. The Council, comprising forty countries, has sent a strong message of disapproval to Iran through this resounding rejection.
Unsurprisingly, Iranian officials were conspicuously silent in the aftermath of the decision, offering no immediate response to the setback. On the other hand, the US State Department’s spokesperson, Matt Miller, left no ambiguity in expressing their stance. He addressed reporters during a news briefing, asserting that Iran should have no place in hosting any official international gathering related to maritime affairs. The US government firmly believes that Iran’s repeated flouting of international maritime rules, standards, and safety protocols renders them unfit to hold such an event of global significance.
As tensions persist between Washington and Tehran, the repercussions of this maritime event saga are yet to unfold. The power play on the international stage continues, and the future of diplomatic relations remains uncertain. The rejection of Iran’s bid serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences that nations may face when they disregard established norms and pose a threat to maritime security.
