Countries should reject efforts by Iran to impose sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran's "unilateral decision" to create a body to control traffic through the waterway, the U.N. shipping agency's governing council agreed on Friday.
The move is seen as a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran and the international community over control of the strategic waterway, which is a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies. The U.N. agency's decision is expected to strengthen the position of countries opposed to Iran's efforts to exert control over the strait, which is a vital shipping lane for international trade.