The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced a large-scale evacuation plan for around 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following a peace agreement between the US and Iran.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed the peace deal between the US and Iran and stated that it ended the attacks against civilian shipping after months of hardship, according to a press release on Tuesday.
Dominguez paid tribute to the 14 seafarers who lost their lives during the conflict.
He noted that the large-scale operation involved close cooperation with Iran, Oman, the US, other coastal states and the maritime industry.
The agency secured necessary safety guarantees and thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support the evacuation operations.
Oman also issued a notice to mariners regarding the new safe navigation protocols in the region.
Reopening Strait of Hormuz
After the beginning of the US and Israel's attacks on Iran as of the end of February, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and hundreds of vessels got trapped in the Gulf.
On June 14, Iran and the US announced that they had reached a 14-point understanding mediated by Pakistan, aimed at ending the war and addressing outstanding disputes through dialogue and negotiations.
The memorandum, known as the Islamabad Understanding, entered into force on June 18 after being electronically signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump.
The agreement includes provisions related to ending the war, including in Lebanon; reopening the Strait of Hormuz; and lifting the US naval blockade imposed on Iran
