Iran and Israel traded accusations on Wednesday at the UN’s shipping agency, blaming one another for threatening commercial maritime traffic in the Gulf and Red Sea as their military conflict deepened. During a session of the International Maritime Organization’s security committee, Iran’s delegation said Israel had recently expanded its “unlawful attacks” to include petrochemical and gas facilities in Asalouyeh, along Iran’s Gulf coast. “These actions directly endanger international maritime security and the global energy supply chain,” Iran said in a statement to IMO delegates, livestreamed during the session. “If the international community fails to take urgent and concrete measures to halt this unlawful aggression, the risk of escalation at sea becomes imminent.”
Iran has previously warned it could close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against Western pressure, a move that would severely restrict global trade and likely impact oil prices. Maritime agencies are currently advising commercial vessels to steer clear of Iranian waters near the Strait, according to shipping sources.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he had asked the Trump administration to provide a classified briefing to all 100 senators on the ongoing escalation between Iran and Israel, which has included several days of missile exchanges. “We’ve gotten briefings and I have requested that we get an all-senators classified briefing,” Schumer said, adding that he expected the request would be granted.
Iranian media, including the official IRNA news agency, reported that an Israeli strike targeted a building belonging to the Iranian Red Crescent Society in Tehran on Wednesday.
In Washington, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military was “prepared to execute” any decision made by President Donald Trump regarding Iran, though he declined to confirm whether strike options were already in preparation. “If and when those decisions are made, the Department (of Defense) is prepared to execute them,” Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
