Iran Submits Documents of US and Israeli Attacks on Its Ports and Maritime Infrastructure to the IMO Council

The Islamic Republic of Iran has presented documents and images related to the attacks by the United States and Israel on the country's ports, civilian vessels, and maritime infrastructure to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

these documents — portions of which were viewed by an IRNA correspondent in London — have been provided to the member states of the International Maritime Organization in the form of an official report, to be considered within the framework of item 11 of the agenda of the 138th session of the Organization's Council, titled "Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes."

This report, prepared by the country's Ports and Maritime Organization under the title "War Crime Against Iran's Ports and Maritime Infrastructure," comprises a collection of images and documents related to the consequences of the military aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran's civilian maritime facilities since February 28, 2026 (9 Esfand 1404).

Part of the submitted documents is dedicated to the damage inflicted on the vital infrastructure of the country's ports. The images attached to the document, in addition to the damage caused to port facilities, show damage to the maritime search and rescue coordination center and rescue vessels.

In this document, the Islamic Republic of Iran has warned that the consequences of the military aggression of the United States and Israel are not limited to the destruction of the country's facilities and vessels, but that damage to traffic control towers, communication equipment, and rescue centers has also exposed the safety of vessel traffic in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman to serious risks.

In Iran's report, it is emphasized that the destruction of maritime traffic control infrastructure could increase the risk of vessel collisions and the occurrence of secondary incidents.

Damage to rescue facilities has also reduced the ability to respond to potential incidents at sea and may endanger the lives of seafarers from other countries.

This document also addresses the environmental consequences of the attacks, warning that the destruction of oil facilities, tanks, and vessels could lead to the leakage of pollutants and damage to the marine ecosystem.

According to this report, the effects of such pollution are not necessarily limited to the geographical scope of the site of the attack.

In the legal section of its document, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the military aggression of the United States and Israel against the country's ports, vessels, and civilian infrastructure to be contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, particularly Article 2, Paragraph 4, and emphasizes that attacks on civilian facilities and maritime rescue equipment constitute a violation of the principles of international humanitarian law.

In this document, citing the principles of distinction between military and civilian targets, proportionality, and the taking of precautionary measures in attacks, it is emphasized that civilian port facilities and commercial vessels enjoy the protection of international law, and the commercial activity of a port alone cannot authorize an attack on its civilian facilities.

Iran also considers attacks on rescue vessels and facilities used to save lives at sea to be instances of war crimes and has called for the accountability of the perpetrators of these actions under international law.

In the final section of the document, the Islamic Republic of Iran has called on IMO member states and international bodies to seriously consider the documented destruction of the country's civilian maritime infrastructure, condemn illegal attacks against vessels and rescue equipment, and support the reconstruction of vital maritime safety capacities.

Iran has also emphasized the necessity of observing uniform legal standards in dealing with attacks against civilian shipping and has called for international reactions to such actions to be independent of the geographical location or identity of the affected country.

The 138th session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization will be held from Monday to Friday (November 2 to 6, 2026 / 11 to 15 Aban 1405) in London, with the protection of vital shipping lanes and the safety of seafarers among the key axes of this session's agenda.