The United Nations said an operation has begun to clear ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, after about 3.5 months of disruption tied to the war between the United States and Iran. The UN said it is coordinating the release of roughly 600 vessels trapped in the area, while nearly 200 ships have already exited the strait.
The announcement was made in coordination with Iran, Oman and the United States. UN International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the “large-scale operation” will be carried out with those partners and the shipping industry, adding, “We have obtained the required safety guarantees and carried out a comprehensive review of the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations.”
The plan comes after the agreement between Washington and Tehran, which included reopening the strait after Iran had closed it to traffic. The UN said about 11,000 sailors were trapped in the Persian Gulf during the conflict. According to the UN, around 600 ships were stuck in the region, while Kpler, the maritime tracking company, said at least 172 vessels had passed through the reopened waterway.
Under the UN plan, two shipping lanes can now be used through the Strait of Hormuz, in coordination with Oman. The future of the passage remains unclear, however. The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran says the strait will remain open without fees for only 60 days, after which Iran and Oman are to decide its future with regional states. President Donald Trump later said publicly that “there will be no fees in the Strait of Hormuz even after 60 days, unless the US collects them.”
Oman and Iran said yesterday they will continue talks on future shipping management in the area, including maritime services and associated costs. In a joint statement after talks in Muscat, they said they are committed to ensuring safe passage under international law, while also emphasizing their sovereignty over their territorial waters. They said they will create a joint working group with their foreign ministries and consult other Gulf states and additional relevant parties.
