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.
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.’
