Marathon discussions\u00a0hosted\u00a0by Pakistan\u00a0ended in stalemate\u00a0this weekend in\u00a0the\u00a0country\u2019s\u00a0capital,\u00a0Islamabad.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
While no agreement was reached,\u00a0\u201cthe discussions themselves underscored the seriousness of their engagement and constituted a positive and meaningful step toward renewed dialogue,\u201d UN Spokesman St\u00e9phane Dujarric said in\u00a0a statement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the deeply rooted differences, an agreement cannot be reached overnight,\u00a0and the Secretary-General calls on the talks to continue constructively for an agreement to be reached.\u00a0At the same time, the ceasefire must absolutely be preserved. All violations must cease.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Concern for stranded seafarers\u00a0<\/p>\n The UN chief\u00a0thanked Pakistan and\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0mediators \u2013Saudi Arabia,\u00a0Egypt\u00a0and T\u00fcrkiye \u2013 and\u00a0called\u00a0for the international community to support\u00a0their efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n He\u00a0stressed\u00a0that all parties to the\u00a0conflict must respect freedom of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u202fcritical\u202fmaritime corridor,\u00a0located\u00a0south of Iran, lies between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The US announced plans to blockade ships entering and leaving Iranian ports which took effect on Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, some 20,000 seafarers\u00a0remain\u00a0stranded on ships\u00a0in\u00a0the Persian Gulf\u00a0and are \u201cfacing increasing hardships daily,\u201d the UN statement recalled.<\/p>\n The head of the International Maritime Organization<\/a> (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez,\u00a0highlighted the\u00a0risks\u00a0in remarks to country delegations gathered for a meeting to discuss security threats at sea.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It would be very simple for anyone to imagine being in a situation where you have been trapped on board a ship without being able to navigate for over a month now,\u201d he\u00a0said.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere is always the concern that supplies may start running low.\u00a0There is the constant threat that a ship may be targeted or attacked, which endangers the lives of the seafarers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Shipping trade disrupted\u00a0<\/p>\n In normal times, 35 per cent of global crude oil\u00a0\u2013\u00a0some\u00a020 million barrels\u00a0\u2013\u00a0along with 30 per cent of fertilizer trade and a fifth of liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz daily, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n Disruptions in maritime trade have already had direct effects in the region and beyond,\u00a0with increased global economic fragility and insecurity in many sectors.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0UN warned that \u201cdisruption of fertilizer and its inputs further exacerbate food insecurity for millions of vulnerable people around the world, adding to the rising cost of living due to impacts from fuel, transportation and supply chain disruptions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Against this backdrop,\u00a0engagement continues with relevant parties on the design and operation of the\u00a0recently appointed UN task force\u00a0on the Strait of Hormuz, the statement said.\u00a0<\/p>\n