IMO to Evacuate 11,000 Sailors Amid Gulf Tension

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is launching a large‑scale operation to rescue more than 11,000 sailors who have been stranded in the Gulf, as the region faces renewed pressure from the US‑Iran standoff.

IMO secretary‑general Arsenio Dominguez said the operation will involve Iran, Oman, the United States and other coastal states, emphasizing that “safety guarantees” have been secured for safe navigation.

The initiative follows a recent interim deal that ended hostilities, but both sides remain in dispute over key details of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The United States has highlighted that the MoU includes IAEA inspections of Iran’s nuclear programme, while Iran continues to challenge the scope of these inspections.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is touring the Gulf, warned that no country can impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as an international waterway governed by existing law.

Rescue efforts hinge on keeping the strait open. Oman's recent notification to mariners allows two temporary routes, each vessel to be contacted individually for instructions. The IMO plans to publish a daily report on ships that safely leave the region.

The strait’s temporary closure earlier this year caused oil prices to surge above $100 a barrel and disrupted shipments of energy and essential commodities such as fertilizer. Since reopening, at least 172 vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz—including 42 ships on a Saturday alone—though this remains below the pre‑conflict average of 138 daily crossings.

Ship‑tracking data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler indicates over 200 tankers may still be waiting inside the strait as of the latest reporting.