IMO launches operation to evacuate over 11,000 crew members stranded in Gulf

The International Maritime Organization, a UN agency, has launched a large-scale operation to safely move vessels and more than 11,000 crew members stranded in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz following the war between the United States and Iran.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement Monday that the operation would be carried out "in close cooperation with all coastal states in the region, including Iran and Oman, as well as the United States and the maritime industry."

"We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and thoroughly verified the safe navigation conditions required to support such an operation," Dominguez said. "We remain committed to ensuring the safety of seafarers and the continuity of global trade."

Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz by threatening and attacking vessels after war broke out in late February following an invasion by the United States and Israel.

The US and Iran signed a ceasefire memorandum of understanding on June 17, agreeing to work toward reopening the strait to its prewar status.

An IMO spokesperson told Reuters that the agency had "started notifying vessels to begin moving," without disclosing a detailed schedule.

The IMO shared a notice Oman sent to vessels, which said two temporary transit corridors through the Strait of Hormuz would be used for the evacuation plan, with additional instructions to be sent to each ship individually.

Reuters, citing Oman's state news agency, reported that Oman coordinated with the IMO to provide temporary maritime corridors for vessels seeking to transit the strait.

Ships wishing to use the temporary routes must first consult with the IMO, based on coordinates announced by the IMO and Omani authorities.

The measure aims to guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — an international waterway considered a strategic chokepoint under international law — without imposing transit fees.

According to maritime intelligence platform Kpler, at least 36 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the highest number recorded since the war began on Feb. 28.

Dominguez welcomed the peace agreement between the US and Iran, calling it "a decisive step to restore maritime security and end unacceptable attacks on civilian shipping" following "the hardships endured by innocent seafarers and the devastating impact on the world."

He also paid tribute to "the 14 innocent seafarers who tragically lost their lives during this war."

While the ceasefire agreement has reopened the Strait of Hormuz and traffic is increasing, tensions between the two sides over control of the waterway continue.

Iran and Oman said in a joint statement that they are jointly reviewing the possibility of imposing service fees for transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the ceasefire MOU, Iran is to keep the strait open free of charge for 60 days, but it may seek to collect fees under various pretexts once that period expires.

Iran maintains that the Strait of Hormuz falls within its sovereign jurisdiction and has shown a strong determination to retain control. The blockade proved to be a powerful deterrent and a key negotiating lever for Iran during the war.

The US has pushed back, citing the right of transit passage under international law to argue that free navigation through the strait must be guaranteed.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday to begin a tour of Gulf states, said he opposes any Iranian attempt to impose fees, stating that "no country can impose tolls or fees on an international waterway."