Hormuz Seafarer Rescue
IMO Begins Evacuating 11,000 Seafarers from Hormuz After US-Iran Interim Peace Deal
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Key Points
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The interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran was reached on June 18, 2026, enabling the IMO to plan evacuations under that framework.
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Some sources report the scope could be larger than the initially cited 11,000 seafarers, with estimates around 20,000 individuals and about 2,000 ships involved.
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The evacuation plan hinges on establishing a safe maritime corridor, contingent on confirmed safety from threats such as mines and other hazards.
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Market signals around the announcement include increased activity suggesting a higher likelihood of normal Hormuz traffic resuming, with pricing reportedly supportive of scenarios where shipping through Hormuz is unrestricted and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait market remaining unaffected.
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The Strait of Hormuz accounts for around one-fifth of global oil and natural gas traded, underscoring the corridor's strategic importance and why disruptions have wide-reaching implications.
The United Nations' maritime agency has launched a large-scale evacuation to free more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf, CNBC reported. The plan follows a ceasefire signed on June 18 by the United States and Iran, ending months of deadly blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the operation will run in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, the US, and the broader maritime industry. "We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and verified conditions for safe navigation," he said, according to Yahoo News.
How the Strait Went Dark in Three Months
The crisis began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury — nearly 900 strikes in 12 hours. Iran retaliated immediately by closing the Strait of Hormuz and laying sea mines. Over the following weeks, Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces boarded merchant ships and struck vessels attempting transit. Fourteen seafarers were killed during the standoff.
By June 9, the IMO warned that "no safe passage" existed in the strait. The blockade choked off roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas supply, according to The Maritime Executive. Global oil prices spiked sharply before dropping 2–3% after the June 18 peace signing.
The Islamabad Deal That Unlocked the Corridor
Pakistan and Qatar mediated a breakthrough on June 14. The resulting Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding — signed by Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian four days later — set a 60-day road map for peace and an immediate end to the blockade. Trump declared simply: "Let the oil flow!"
US Vice President JD Vance led negotiations in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, calling them "a very good foundation for a successful final deal," according to Tri-City Herald. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi praised "tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation." The US Treasury also issued a 60-day license allowing Iranian oil sales to help cement the deal.
Phased Evacuation Through Mined Waters
The standard shipping lane through Hormuz is still unsafe because of floating mines. So Oman issued a "Notice to Mariners" with two temporary routes around suspected minefields, according to The Maritime Executive. The IMO and Oman are using what they call a "phased evacuation," making individual contact with each vessel to guide it out safely.
The scale is staggering. About 2,000 ships are currently anchored or drifting in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf, per Taylorville Daily News. Some estimates put the total number of stranded personnel closer to 20,000 when port workers and non-commercial crews are included. Oman and Iran have set up a joint working group to manage the corridor going forward.
Markets Move, but Big Risks Remain
Commodity markets are already pricing in a successful reopening. Shipping data firm Kpler recorded a record 36 commodity vessels transiting on June 22 — a sign that the industry believes the deal will hold. The Hormuz corridor handles about 20% of global LNG trade, so the stakes for energy markets are enormous.
But analysts warn the deal is fragile. CSIS analyst Emily Harding noted that Iran "won the negotiation, even though it lost the war" — securing a proposed $300 billion recovery fund and lifted oil sanctions. Critics argue the 60-day road map could collapse if fighting resumes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Yahoo News.
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