What is the core operational mechanism proposed by the UN to restore fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz?

The UN’s proposed mechanism—detailed in the 'UN Operational Mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz' document—involves a two-phase humanitarian corridor: first, facilitating fertiliser and raw material exports from Gulf ports during the conflict; second, expanding to essential commodity imports. Shipping agents would submit vessel data to an online database; UN monitors stationed in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, and Iran would verify cargo; approved vessels would proceed to designated coordination zones in international waters near the strait before clearance for transit. The UN stated the mechanism could be set up in seven days, but no implementation timeline was specified.

Why has Guterres’s fertiliser corridor plan stalled, and which actors are most critical to its success?

The plan has stalled due to lack of full buy-in from key parties—especially Iran, the United States, and Gulf countries—whose involvement is essential because the conflict involves Iranian retaliatory actions following US-Israel incitement on February 28 and an ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports. While Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani affirmed support for UN ships passing the strait—including for fertiliser, oil, and gas—he conditioned further negotiations (e.g., in Islamabad) on the US ending its naval blockade, noting the US had privately agreed but not publicly committed. The volatility of the strait—virtually closed since early March—and shifting Iranian policies on access further impede progress.

Food Security: Why UN Chief Guterres’s Plan to Get Fertiliser Flowing in Hormuz Is Stalling

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Food Security: Why UN Chief Guterres’s Plan to Get Fertiliser Flowing in Hormuz Is Stalling — ChemBrief Topics

Food Security: Why UN Chief Guterres’s Plan to Get Fertiliser Flowing in Hormuz Is Stalling

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