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UN says it will evacuate sailors stranded in Strait of Hormuz, as Rubio warns against tolls

June 23, 2026

The UN's International Maritime Organization is launching a large-scale evacuation of over 11,000 sailors trapped in the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israel conflict with Iran. While an interim peace agreement was reached last week to reopen the strategic waterway, disputes continue between Washington and Tehran over nuclear inspections and Iran's proposed maritime fees for ships crossing the strait. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is touring Gulf nations to reinforce that international law prohibits charging tolls on international waterways like the strait.

Who is affected

  • More than 11,000 stranded sailors in the Gulf
  • Iran, Oman, the US, and other coastal states in the region
  • The maritime industry and shipping companies
  • Countries in the Gulf region, particularly UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain
  • Global consumers affected by oil prices and commodity shipments
  • Over 200 tanker crews currently waiting inside the strait

What action is being taken

  • The IMO is conducting a large-scale evacuation operation for stranded sailors
  • Two temporary routes through the strait are being used for evacuations
  • Vessels are being contacted individually for instructions
  • The IMO is issuing daily reports on ships leaving the region safely
  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is touring Gulf nations (UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain)
  • At least 172 vessels have traveled through the reopened Strait of Hormuz

Why it matters

  • The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international waterway for global energy and commodity shipments. Its closure since late February caused significant economic disruption, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel and choking off shipments of fertilizer and other crucial commodities. The thousands of stranded sailors represent a humanitarian crisis, while the ongoing dispute over maritime fees threatens to reignite tensions that could again disrupt global supply chains and energy markets. The disagreement over nuclear inspections and Iran's defensive capabilities indicates the fragility of the peace agreement.

What's next

  • The IMO will continue evacuating stranded sailors using two temporary routes through the strait
  • The IMO will issue daily reports on the number of ships leaving safely
  • Secretary of State Rubio will continue his tour to Kuwait and Bahrain to discuss the Tehran deal
  • The US and Iran must resolve disputes over nuclear site inspections and maritime fees

Read full article from source: BBC