New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged member states to engage with a UN led initiative aimed at easing disruptions to essential goods passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, Guterres stated that the confidence-building mechanism was created by a task force he established in March. The framework will initially focus on the transit of fertilizers and raw materials, with the potential to include additional products later.

"The purpose is simple: to reduce immediate risks, support more orderly and predictable transit, and help rebuild the confidence necessary for diplomacy and deescalation," Guterres said.

He noted that the UN would act as a neutral facilitator, adding that the mechanism does not grant passage authorisation or modify the legal rights and obligations of member states under international law.

The task force behind the proposal is led by the UN Office for Project Services alongside the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Chamber of Commerce.

Guterres highlighted that disruptions in maritime choke points, including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab Al Mandab, and shipping routes affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, are impacting global energy and agricultural supply chains. He noted that transits through the Strait of Hormuz have reached a near standstill, contributing to a 33 percent rise in oil prices since the start of the conflict and an 84 percent increase in global container rates compared to last year.

Calling for adherence to international law and the protection of seafarers and civilian vessels, Guterres stressed that the mechanism is intended as a practical step rather than a permanent replacement for political solutions.