London, May 13 (QNA) - Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, called for respect for freedom of navigation and for ensuring the safety of seafarers and ships, stressing that commercial vessels and mariners should not become victims of geopolitical tensions.

Speaking at the opening of a session of the Maritime Safety Committee in London on Wednesday, Dominguez said the fundamental principles governing freedom of navigation are clear and non-negotiable, emphasizing the need to translate those principles into concrete action.

The United Nations-affiliated International Maritime Organization said last week that around 1,500 ships remain stranded in Gulf waters because of the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has persisted since Feb. 28. (QNA)