Council on International Mediation Condemns Assault on Global Maritime Commerce and Escalating Middle East Violence; Demands Immediate Return to US-Iran Diplomacy and Adherence to Cease-Fire.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Council on International Mediation (CIM)

www.cimediation.org/contact

WASHINGTON, DC / DOHA, QATAR — The Council on International Mediation (CIM) views with profound alarm and the gravest concern the rapidly deteriorating security situation across the Middle East. Over the past 48 hours, compounding acts of aggression have pushed the region to the precipice of a catastrophic, all-out war. The Council issues this unequivocal demand for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to the negotiating table.

The Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the unjustified and illegal attack on the Panamanian-flagged commercial vessel MSC SARISKA V in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was acting in complete accordance with international maritime law and was en route to Port Hamad, Qatar, when it was targeted in international waters. This hostile strike is not only a direct act of aggression against the Republic of Panama, but a lawless assault on the global maritime transportation system and the freedom of navigation.

Furthermore, CIM forcefully condemns the completely unprovoked and unjustified attacks by Iran on the sovereign territory of Kuwait. This reckless assault constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, a direct breach of state sovereignty, and an unacceptable escalation that deliberately destabilizes a nation that has historically served as a bridge for regional peace. There is absolutely no strategic or moral justification for targeting Kuwait, and CIM demands that Iran immediately cease all hostile actions against its neighbors and international shipping lanes.

Simultaneously, our organization heavily admonishes the Israeli Government for its significantly increased aggression and military incursions into Lebanon. A widening of the military front into Lebanon will not guarantee security for any nation; instead, it guarantees a severe humanitarian crisis, massive civilian suffering, and an unmanageable expansion of the conflict theater. The disregard for Lebanon’s sovereignty and the safety of its civilian population must stop immediately.

The concurrent actions by Iran and Israel, alongside the lawless targeting of commercial shipping, are creating an extraordinarily volatile and dangerous environment. Left unchecked, these compounding provocations will inevitably engulf the entire region in a devastating conflict from which no nation will emerge victorious.

In this moment of acute peril, CIM urgently appeals to the leadership of the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Council implores both Washington and Tehran to maintain open channels of communication, preserve the existing cease-fire agreements, and refuse to let regional provocations derail the delicate progress made through dialogue. A breakdown in US-Iran diplomacy right now would remove the critical guardrails preventing a wider global conflagration.

"The delusion that peace can be secured through the barrel of a gun, the launch of a missile, or the hijacking of global trade must be shattered," said CIM President Shiekh Nawaf bin Mubarak Al Thani. "History has proven time and again that military expansionism only breeds further generations of conflict. Diplomacy, structured mediation, and strict adherence to international law are not merely options; they are the only solutions that can ensure long-term peace, stability, and security in the Middle East."

The Council on International Mediation stands ready to support and encourage diplomatic talks to not only continue, but to expand regionally. CIM calls upon the United Nations Security Council and the international community to unite in enforcing an immediate de-escalation, ensuring the safety of international waters, and steering the region away from the brink of total war.

###