Arsenio Dominguez
ON THE RECORD · 28 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“So in the meantime, we cannot guarantee that a vessel that intends to transit that route will not be hit by a mine.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez warned that the IMO cannot guarantee a vessel transiting the route will not be hit by a mine.
“Our role right now is to prepare for when we have the opportunity to go back, resume the operations, follow all the procedures at IMO, but not until the root causes are addressed and those are beyond IMO.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez said the IMO's role is to prepare for resuming operations once the root causes of the conflict are addressed.
“We have received communication from Iran to use that route because of the conflict,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez clarified that the IMO received communication from Iran to use the alternative route because of the conflict.
“That's the way that it's been presented. But anything for us to approve needs to go through the mechanisms at the international maritime organizations and the member states need to review it.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez stated that any route approval must go through IMO mechanisms and member state review.
“The traffic separation scheme, the information that we have is that they still have mines. And of course, whilst the conflict is ongoing, it's very difficult for us to use third parties to verify that it is clear of these hazards,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez told Fox News Digital that the IMO's information indicates the traffic separation scheme still has mines and third-party verification is difficult while the conflict is ongoing.
“We have received confirmation from Iran about the establishment of its temporary route in the waters,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez acknowledged receiving confirmation from Iran about the establishment of its temporary route in the waters.
“an official confirmation or a decision of the organization.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez stated that Iran's temporary route was not provided with an official confirmation or decision from the IMO.
“not open for business in the way that it was before the conflict started,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez warned that the Strait of Hormuz has not returned to normal operations due to continued threats of mines and attacks.
“There's only one route that should be used for transit, but it's not clear of mines right now, so it's not safe.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez stated that the single approved transit route is not clear of mines and is not safe.
“Any other route needs to actually be sent to the organization to go through the processes, and we have not received that.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez explained that any alternative route must be submitted to the IMO to go through approval processes, which had not been received.
“Right now there's only one route that was adopted back in 1968 that is approved and recognized for IMO and that appears in all the charts for the vessels to operate,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-20
Dominguez explained that only one IMO-approved route adopted in 1968 is recognized and appears on all charts for vessel operations.
“And we have seen this in several parts of the world where Channel 16, that should not be used for this kind of communication, starts receiving messages that may be perceived as actually threatening or that are outside the remit of why it was created.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said Channel 16 has received threatening messages in several parts of the world.
“For me, any single case, any vessel that is attacked, any life of a seafarer that is lost, is a critical situation for me, because they are all relevant, they are all important.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said any attacked vessel or lost seafarer life is a critical situation because all are important.
“I have conversations with them and they respond to my messages. You know, the information flows. What is difficult is to get final decisions because of the conflict that is ongoing.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said Iran responds to his messages but final decisions are difficult due to the ongoing conflict.
“I have communications with all the member states of IMO, and that includes the Islamic Republic of Iran,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said he has communications with all IMO member states including Iran.
“Seafarers are not trained for combat, and they are not guilty of any conflicts that are happening around the world,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said seafarers are not trained for combat and are not guilty of conflicts happening around the world.
“Of course, that's through the diplomatic channels. I don't have direct contact with the IRGC.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said communications with Iran go through diplomatic channels and he has no direct contact with the IRGC.
“And it's the irresponsible shipowners that are taking the risk in order to actually be able to trade and move some of the goods and the cargoes.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez blamed irresponsible shipowners for taking risks to trade and move goods.
“What we've also seen right now is an increase in fraudulent registries with false flags that are taking the risk and acting as shuttle tankers in order to bring goods in and out,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez warned that fraudulent registries with false flags are acting as shuttle tankers to move goods.
“The situation continues to be severe and critical when it comes to international shipping,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez warned that the situation for international shipping near the Strait of Hormuz remains severe and critical.
“If it's demonstrated that we probably need to improve our rules in order to avoid communications issues, or that we need to enhance the knowledge of how these channels should be used, that is a role for us.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said improving rules or enhancing knowledge of channel usage is a role for the IMO.
“That's one of the reasons that we're seeing an escalation.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said fraudulent registries are one reason for the escalation in maritime incidents.
“Seafarers have continued to perish in these attacks and around 6,000 seafarers remain trapped since the beginning of the conflict,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez warned that seafarers have died in attacks and about 6,000 remain trapped since the conflict began.
“We take all that information, meet at the level of different meetings of the organization and have the discussions,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said the IMO takes information and discusses it at different meetings of the organization.
“There is a double blockade and too many vessels have been attacked, particularly in recent days.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez described a double blockade and said too many vessels have been attacked in recent days.
“We have a responsibility, and I have a duty as well, to circulate letters and notes that the countries actually put forward when they're also being affected.”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said he has a duty to circulate letters and notes from countries being affected.
“Our role here at IMO is that when those situations take place, we will then look into any technical measures or any operational aspects that we may need to clarify further within our regulatory framework,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-19
Dominguez said the IMO will look into technical or operational measures within its regulatory framework when such situations occur.
“Renewed political will and cooperation is needed,”
Arsenio Dominguez · said 2026-08-28 · reported 2026-08-30
Arsenio Dominguez called for practical steps to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.