Saudi FM Warns UN: Global Inaction Lets Iran Block Key Oil Routes

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressed the UN General Assembly on September 26, 2026, warning of the international community's inaction regarding disruptions to Gulf shipping. The minister emphasized that attempts to block Middle East waterways pose a threat to global energy security.

Since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Tehran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while its Houthi allies in Yemen have done the same in the Bab Al Mandab Strait. Both routes are vital for oil and gas exports.

Prince bin Farhan demanded that the international community take action to defend freedom of navigation in these waterways, citing the importance of guaranteeing protection and preventing any party from using them as a tool for pressure or harm.