International maritime body calls emergency talks on Strait of Hormuz

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will convene an "extraordinary session" next week to discuss threats to shipping in the Middle East and particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, the agency said Thursday.

The meeting, scheduled for March 18-19 at the IMO headquarters in London, was requested by six of IMO's 40 members: Britain, Egypt, France, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

It comes amidst fears about the choking off of global energy supplies triggering rocketing energy prices.


The Strait of Hormuz -- through which a fifth of global crude passes -- has effectively shut down by Iranian retaliatory attacks against ships and its Gulf neighbours.

On Thursday, an attack on two oil tankers off Iraq killed at least one crew member, while a cargo ship caught fire after being hit by shrapnel.

Iran's new supreme leader ordered the Strait of Hormuz to remain closed on Thursday, while US President Donald Trump said stopping the Islamic republic's "evil empire" was more important than crude prices.

Oil prices soared Thursday to above $100 and stock markets extended losses.