Iran Files Complaint with IMO Over US Use of Channel 16 to Intimidate Sailors

Iran accused United States military forces of improperly using VHF distress channel 16 in the Persian Gulf, turning it, according to its complaint, into a tool of military intimidation and psychological pressure against civilian crews. The accusation was submitted in a formal letter to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the body.

According to Iran's complaint, Iranian seafarers were hailed in Persian with threatening, abusive and provocative language, and in some cases were urged to abandon their vessels. Iran states that it received these reports from merchant ships, shipping companies and maritime operators, though it did not provide transcripts or specific details of the exchanges. TradeWinds said it had asked the Iranian embassy in London for further details about the calls, and that it had also contacted the US embassy for comment.

Iran argues that Channel 16, reserved under a 2003 IMO resolution and SOLAS regulations exclusively for very brief distress, urgency and safety communications, was disrupted by these hostile transmissions, which could delay genuine distress calls with serious consequences for ships and crews. The letter makes no reference to the attacks attributed to Iran in the conflict, which, according to IMO figures cited by Maritime Executive, stood at 15 as of that point in October.

The protest comes amid the blockade the United States resumed on July 14 against all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. CENTCOM reported that, as of October 10, four merchant vessels had been disabled and 135 had been turned away during three months of strict enforcement of the blockade, in addition to the destruction of 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' shadow fleet. CENTCOM also reported disabling, on October 10, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier that it said was attempting to evade the blockade.

The IMO recorded more than 100 confirmed incidents in the Middle East since the war began on February 28, with at least 24 seafarers killed, two missing as of October and 12 injured, according to data compiled by Trade News and Financial Ports. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez had previously warned that conflicts are being used as a pretext to attack merchant ships and innocent seafarers. Iran asked the IMO to take appropriate action and to circulate the letter to all member states, at a time when, according to Maritime Executive, Donald Trump indicated that the blockade would remain in place at least until the midterm elections.