The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding that is to end the war between the two countries. Following this agreement, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced an evacuation plan for the seafarers stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026. This followed after the United States and Israel attacked Iran and assassinated its leader, Ali Khamenei. The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway for oil trade and LNG transport. Since the closure, many ships and seafarers have been unable to leave the region and remained trapped in ports in the Persian Gulf.
IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez issued the following statement: ‘After months of hardship and distress for thousands of innocent seafarers, and negative impact for the whole world, I welcome with deep satisfaction the peace agreement concluded between the United States and Iran, marking a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping. I want to pay tribute to the fourteen innocent seafarers who tragically lost their lives during this conflict. Their dedication in service of global trade will not be forgotten.’
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Evacuation plan
He continues: ‘We will begin the implementation of the evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the region. This large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry. We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations.’
‘The priority remains the safe evacuation of the 11,000 seafarers who have been stranded in the region since the end of February,’ adds a spokesperson of the International Chamber of Shipping. ‘We have consistently said that this will require coordination between the IMO, states in the region and crucially the industry. The IMO evacuation plan is a welcome development to delivering this coordination and restoring freedom of navigation. It is vital this plan works in harmony, rather than conflicting, with existing mechanisms.
Picture: Ships in the Strait of Hormuz (photo by IMO).
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