The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) is organizing the evacuation of over 11,000 crew members currently stranded in the Gulf following the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez described the initiative as a major operation conducted in partnership with regional coastal states, the US, and the shipping industry.
Although a provisional peace agreement was established last week, tensions persist regarding the specific terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Disagreements continue over the scope of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections at Iranian nuclear facilities. While President Donald Trump has praised the deal for securing indefinite access, Iranian officials claim that sites damaged by US and Israeli military action will remain off-limits to inspectors.
Amidst these diplomatic hurdles, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has commenced a regional tour, starting in the UAE. During his visit, Rubio firmly rejected any plans by Tehran to levy fees on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that such charges are prohibited under international maritime law, noting that regional partners share the US position on maintaining open transit.
Maritime traffic has begun to recover since the waterway reopened, with recent data showing at least 172 vessels completing passage. However, transit numbers remain lower than pre-conflict levels, as the shipping industry continues to navigate the aftermath of a blockade that previously triggered spikes in global oil prices and commodity shortages.
