Why has the UN paused plans to evacuate sailors from the Strait of Hormuz?
Key takeaways
- A cargo vessel had been struck by a projectile near Oman, as Iran says all ships must pass with its permission.
- IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said several crews had already been evacuated, but the agency had decided to pause the operation until there were “necessary safety guarantees” for those involved.
- The incident comes despite a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the United States and Iran last week that ended hostilities and included provisions aimed at reopening the strategic waterway.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
A cargo vessel had been struck by a projectile near Oman, as Iran says all ships must pass with its permission.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on June 18, 2026, vessels are seen anchored in Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz [AFP]By Caolán Magee Published On 26 Jun 202626 Jun 2026The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has suspended plans to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship transiting the waterway was struck by a projectile.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said several crews had already been evacuated, but the agency had decided to pause the operation until there were “necessary safety guarantees” for those involved.