UN: 20,000 Sailors and 15,000 Passengers Stranded in the Persian Gulf

The humanitarian and economic crisis looms over the Persian Gulf after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. This vital chokepoint, which channels about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, has become a hazardous environment for international shipping. According to the latest data from the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO), the situation has grown more acute with around 20,000 sailors and 15,000 cruise passengers stranded in the area. Since the conflict erupted on Saturday, the IMO has recorded at least seven attacks on commercial vessels. The consequences are severe: two people have been reported killed and seven others injured. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stressed that the safety of human lives must be the foremost priority over economic considerations. “Beyond the economic impact of these troubling attacks, this is a humanitarian issue. No attack against innocent sailors can be justified.” Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not only a threat to shipping but also to global energy stability. As the main route for crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, disruption at the strait is expected to trigger a rise in world energy prices. Dominguez instructed shipping companies to heighten high-level vigilance. “I reiterate my call to all shipping companies to exercise maximum caution when operating in the affected area,” he added.