UN begins clearing stranded ships from the Strait of Hormuz

The UN International Maritime Organization said overnight Tuesday to Wednesday that it has launched a plan to evacuate about 11,000 seafarers left stranded in the Persian Gulf by the war between the United States and Iran. The announcement followed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under understandings reached between Washington and Tehran.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation will be carried out with Iran, Oman, the United States and shipping-industry partners. He said the necessary safety guarantees had been secured and that a comprehensive review of regional sailing conditions had been completed.

According to UN estimates, about 600 vessels remain in the area because of the fighting. The plan will allow traffic to use two shipping lanes in the strait, coordinated with Oman.

Even after the reopening, the strait’s long-term status remains unclear. Under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, passage will be free of fees for 60 days, after which Iran and Oman are expected to discuss future shipping arrangements and how the transit will be managed. Iran and Oman said they will keep talking about maritime traffic in the strait and will establish a joint working group to continue the discussions and coordinate with other regional states.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s prime minister traveled to Muscat to advance talks among Iran, Oman and Gulf states. A diplomatic source quoted by Reuters said Gulf countries are expected to oppose charging transit fees in the strait, while Iran may propose payments tied to security and environmental protection.