11,000 Seafarers Stranded in Persian Gulf to Be Evacuated

Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has announced that the evacuation of thousands of seafarers from ships stranded in the Persian Gulf has commenced. “We will begin implementing the evacuation plan for more than 11,000 seafarers who remain stranded in the region. This major operation will be carried out through close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the area, the United States, and the maritime industry,” Dominguez said in a statement on Tuesday (25/6). He noted that the IMO has provided all necessary security guarantees and believes that current conditions allow ships to pass safely. In the early hours of 18 June, Iran and the United States remotely signed a memorandum to end the military conflict that had been ongoing since 28 February. The MoU also set a deadline for the US to lift its naval blockade and for Iran to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Iran committed not to acquire nuclear weapons, while related nuclear programme issues will be resolved through a separate agreement. Both parties are expected to negotiate this issue over the next 60 days. For Iran, the primary objective is the lifting of a series of sanctions imposed upon it.