UN begins evacuating 11,000 sailors stranded in Strait of Hormuz

The United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has begun evacuating more than 11,000 sailors who have been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, according to multiple reports. The operation follows an interim deal signed last week between Washington and Tehran, which has paused hostilities but left divisions over key details unresolved.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez announced the "large-scale operation" on Tuesday, saying it would be carried out in cooperation with Iran, Oman, the United States, other coastal states in the region, and the maritime industry. "We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations," he said in a statement, as reported by Al Jazeera and the BBC.

The waterway had been effectively closed by Iran since February, leaving vessels trapped for months, according to Al Jazeera. The closure followed the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28, as detailed in another Al Jazeera report. The evacuation plan, which has been under discussion for months, will be phased, Oman's Defence Ministry said, citing the "elevated risk of collision in the current environment."

Coverage comparison

Al Jazeera reported the launch of the evacuation operation and highlighted the IMO's role, with one report noting that the operation began after the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding paused the war. Another Al Jazeera report provided additional context on the closure of the strait and the increase in shipping traffic since the signing of the agreement.

The BBC's coverage framed the story within the broader US-Iran conflict, emphasizing the large-scale nature of the IMO operation and the ongoing disagreements between the two countries over the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The BBC also reported on the involvement of multiple countries in the evacuation effort and the diplomatic tensions surrounding nuclear inspections.

Both outlets reported that an interim deal was signed to end the conflict, but they noted that the US and Iran continue to clash on details of the MoU. The BBC described this as a "clash," while Al Jazeera used similar language.

Key claims

  • More than 11,000 sailors are stranded in the Gulf due to the US-Iran conflict, according to both Al Jazeera and the BBC.
  • The IMO evacuation is being carried out in cooperation with Iran, Oman, the US, and other coastal states, as stated by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and reported by both outlets.
  • An interim deal was signed last week to end the conflict, but the US and Iran continue to disagree on details of the MoU, as reported by both Al Jazeera and the BBC.
  • US President Donald Trump posted on social media that "Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future," according to the BBC.
  • Iran responded that the UN watchdog would not be able to inspect nuclear sites bombed by the US and Israel last year, as reported by the BBC.
  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that no country is allowed to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, according to both Al Jazeera and the BBC.
  • Denmark announced it will join an international maritime mission to help reopen the strait, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • The strait was effectively closed by Iran since February, causing global oil prices to rise, according to Al Jazeera and the BBC.
  • At least 172 vessels have travelled through the reopened strait, with 42 ships passing through on Saturday alone, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Shipping traffic has increased since the signing of the agreement, with at least 36 commercial vessels passing through on Monday, according to Al Jazeera's report citing the Kpler shipping intelligence agency.

Perspectives

The US and Iranian governments have offered differing accounts of the nuclear inspection provisions in the Memorandum of Understanding. President Trump asserted on social media that Iran has agreed to the highest level of nuclear inspections "long into the future," claiming this would ensure "Nuclear Honesty." Shortly before Trump's post, Iran stated that the UN watchdog would not be able to inspect nuclear sites bombed by the US and Israel last year. A US official countered that "the Iranians have agreed to robust IAEA inspections of the remains of their nuclear weapons programme," while adding that "the Iranian regime will say what they have to say for their domestic audience."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking during a visit to Pakistan, said Iran "will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, ever, about our defensive capabilities." He defended Iran's missile program, saying that without it, "Israel and the United States would have ploughed Iran just like Gaza, showing no mercy to either the old or the young."

The United States and Iran also remain at odds over the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio, who began a Gulf tour on Tuesday with visits to the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain, warned that no country is allowed to impose tolls on the strait. Iran has not publicly responded to this specific warning in the provided reports.

Denmark's decision to join the international maritime mission, as announced on Tuesday, adds a European dimension to efforts to reopen the waterway, though the mission's operational details were not fully detailed in the reports.