According to a circular distributed among member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Gulf countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have recently sent a letter to the IMO opposing Iran's establishment of a "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" and the issuance of related navigational warnings.
The statement said that the five countries refuse to use Iranian-designated shipping lanes and reject any dealings with Iran's "Persian Gulf Strait Authority." The five countries also oppose including the Iranian shipping lanes and the relevant authority within the IMO's framework for maritime corridors used for the safe evacuation of distressed merchant vessels. (Xinhua News Agency)