The United States plans to propose referring Iran to the UN Security Council over its obstruction of nuclear inspectors, as Tehran announced on Monday that negotiations for a temporary safe transit route in the Strait of Hormuz have reached their final stages while warning against foreign military deployments.
According to a US draft proposal reported by Bloomberg on Monday, Washington will demand urgent action regarding Iran’s “non-compliance” with UN resolutions and its refusal to allow nuclear inspections during this week’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting in Vienna. Bloomberg noted that China and Russia are unlikely to support the measure, which could potentially lead to economic sanctions or the authorisation of military force.
The IAEA stated in early September that its inspectors remain unable to verify the location or status of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, with no signs of an imminent agreement to end the ongoing six-month war between Washington and Tehran.
Simultaneously in Tehran, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that negotiations with Oman regarding a temporary safe transit route in the Strait of Hormuz are making significant progress.
“We are continuing our contacts with regional countries to defuse the war,” Baghaei told a press conference, noting that a Qatari delegation visited on Sunday to assist in de-escalation efforts. He described the meetings as “good.”
However, Baghaei blamed Washington for breaching a prior memorandum of understanding, stating: “The Strait of Hormuz has become unsafe due to US aggressions and its naval blockade.”
“America attacked Iranian ships and oil carriers, and we have the right to take military action,” he added, stating the US must decide how it wants to restore regional security.
Baghaei also issued a warning to South Korea on the social media platform X, stating that any military involvement or presence in Hormuz would be considered support for “US aggression” and carry severe consequences, despite 64 years of friendly relations based on mutual respect.
South Korean government and military sources previously indicated Seoul is preparing to deploy military assets—such as a maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support ship, or a mine-clearing unit—to support freedom of navigation in Hormuz before year-end. Seoul is preparing to seek parliamentary approval this month following a cabinet review, and is discussing the contribution with countries including the US, UK, and France.
The diplomatic developments coincide with US President Donald Trump threatening to escalate the confrontation by destroying Kharg Island, which is responsible for 90% of Iranian oil exports. In response, Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, threatened to declare a “no-go zone” in the vital waterway.
The exchange follows US forces targeting three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday in retaliation for the Revolutionary Guard firing ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. The US military has adopted a policy of targeting Iranian oil tankers for every attack Tehran launches in the strait.
The military escalation has severely impacted maritime traffic, driving it to the lowest levels since May. Ship-tracking firm Kpler reported that Hormuz transits fell by 28% last week to 77 voyages, with cargo-loaded trips dropping from 45 to 33. Over the past 10 days, commodity vessel transits averaged just 10 per day.
Kpler noted that navigation patterns have become increasingly concentrated. From Sept. 4 to 6, 21 of 28 voyages used routes unilaterally managed by Iran, including seven out of eight trips on the final day of that period.
