US continues strikes on Iran as UN warns of stranded seafarers in Strait of Hormuz

The United States carried out a 13th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, aiming at command centers, drone warehouses, and coastal monitoring facilities. Iranian media reported four deaths and explosions near Qeshm Island, while Kuwait reported Iranian shelling near its frontier.

Simultaneously, maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has reached record lows, creating an acute crisis for commercial mariners. The United Nations Human Rights Office warned that approximately 6,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard 400 ships, with owners abandoning at least nine vessels and 93 crew members.

In response to commercial shipping disruptions, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington would use frozen Iranian assets to reimburse vessel and cargo damage. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the measure, cautioning that asset seizures establish a "highly dangerous precedent."

Sources: Der Standard, ORF, Tagesschau.