International Maritime Organization (IMO), says it has begun a major operation to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded aboard hundreds of vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz

2026, June 24

Iran

The United Nations' maritime agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), says it has begun a major operation to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded aboard hundreds of vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The sailors have been unable to move safely because of months of conflict, mining risks, and severe disruptions to shipping traffic in one of the world's most important waterways.

According to the IMO, the evacuation is being coordinated with Iran, Oman, the United States, other coastal states, and the shipping industry. Ships will be moved in phases through specially designated temporary routes after safety guarantees and navigation checks have been completed.

At the same time, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the United States will not accept any attempt by Iran or any other country to impose tolls or transit fees on ships using the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio argues that the strait is an international waterway and should remain open to global shipping without charges.

The dispute over tolls has become a key issue in ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. While Oman and Iran have discussed future management of navigation services in the strait, Oman announced that the temporary shipping corridors now being opened will remain toll-free during the current transition period.

The Strait of Hormuz remains strategically vital because roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade normally passes through it, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets and international shipping.