UN Moves To Evacuate 11,000 Sailors Stranded In Strait Of Hormuz As US Warns Iran Over Transit Fees

The United Nations is preparing a large-scale operation to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Gulf region following months of disruption linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, as fresh tensions emerge over navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that the evacuation would be carried out in coordination with Iran, Oman, the United States, other coastal states and key stakeholders in the global shipping industry.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said extensive consultations had been completed to ensure the safe movement of vessels through one of the world's most strategically important waterways.

“We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations,” Dominguez said.

He described the initiative as a major step toward restoring maritime security after months of instability that left thousands of seafarers trapped in Gulf waters.

The operation follows an interim agreement reached last week between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending months of military confrontation that disrupted shipping routes and raised fears of a broader regional conflict.

However, despite the ceasefire arrangement, significant disagreements remain over key aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both countries.

One of the most contentious issues involves inspections of Iran's nuclear programme.

The United States maintains that Iran agreed to extensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of the agreement.

President Donald Trump reinforced that position on Tuesday, writing on social media that Iran had accepted “the highest level nuclear inspections long into the future.”

But Iranian officials have disputed Washington's interpretation of the agreement.

Earlier on Tuesday, Tehran stated that international inspectors would not be permitted access to nuclear facilities damaged during military strikes by the United States and Israel last year.

A U.S. official responded by insisting that Iran had committed to robust inspections of what Washington describes as the remnants of its nuclear weapons programme, while suggesting Tehran's public statements were intended for domestic audiences.

Further differences emerged over Iran's missile programme.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking during an official visit to Pakistan, said Tehran would never negotiate over its defensive capabilities.

“We will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, ever, about our defensive capabilities,” he said.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also stated that ballistic missiles were not discussed during negotiations between the United States and Iran and were not included in the agreement.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio used the start of his Gulf tour to warn Iran against imposing charges on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking after arriving in the United Arab Emirates, Rubio said international law does not permit any nation to levy tolls on ships using international waterways.

“It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law,” Rubio said.

“I think all the countries in this region would agree with us.”

The dispute comes as the success of the evacuation operation depends heavily on uninterrupted access through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world's oil and energy supplies pass.

According to the IMO, special navigation arrangements have been established to facilitate the movement of vessels out of the region.

Oman has issued notices to mariners outlining two temporary routes that could be used during the operation, while individual vessels will receive specific instructions regarding transit schedules and safety procedures.

The organisation said it would publish daily updates detailing the number of ships successfully leaving the region.

The Strait of Hormuz experienced severe disruptions after hostilities escalated and Iran effectively restricted access following the outbreak of attacks earlier this year.

The closure sent global oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel and disrupted the movement of energy supplies, fertiliser shipments and other critical commodities.

Although traffic has gradually resumed since the ceasefire agreement was announced, maritime activity remains below normal levels.

Data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler shows that at least 172 vessels have transited through the reopened strait since the agreement took effect, including 42 ships on a single day.

However, that figure remains significantly below the pre-conflict average of approximately 138 vessel crossings per day.

Ship-tracking data analysed by international observers indicates that more than 200 tankers were still waiting inside the strait as of Tuesday, underscoring the scale of the logistical challenge facing authorities.

Dominguez said the evacuation effort would help bring relief to thousands of seafarers who have endured months of uncertainty and hardship.

“After months of hardship and distress for thousands of innocent seafarers, and negative impact on the whole world, I welcome with deep satisfaction the peace agreement concluded between the United States and Iran,” he said.

The coming weeks are expected to test both the durability of the U.S.-Iran agreement and the ability of international maritime authorities to restore normal operations along one of the world's most important shipping routes.