The maritime industry has broadly welcomed the announcement of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, a development that is expected to lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and ease months of disruption across one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
Among those welcoming the breakthrough are the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), both of which have emphasized that the immediate priority must be the safe movement of thousands of seafarers who have been stranded in the region since the crisis began.
Since traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was reduced to only a limited number of vessel movements following its closure on February 28, approximately 1,000 ships and around 20,000 crew members have remained trapped in the Arabian Gulf.
Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the ICS, described the announcement as a major relief for the thousands of seafarers caught in the middle of the conflict. However, he stressed that ensuring their safe departure from the region will be a complex operation that cannot happen overnight.
According to Kazakos, around 500 vessels will need to transit the Strait in order to leave the area, making coordination essential. The ICS believes the IMO will play a central role in organizing and facilitating this process alongside industry stakeholders and governments in the region to ensure movements are carried out safely and efficiently.
The IMO has also confirmed that preparations are underway to support the evacuation of stranded seafarers. In a separate statement, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said that the agreement creates an opportunity for the organization to advance its plans for relocating thousands of crew members affected by the crisis.
Dominguez explained that the IMO is working closely with member states and industry partners to implement these measures. Nevertheless, he cautioned that the operation will require time, as all necessary safety and security guarantees must first be established before large-scale movements can begin.
While the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to follow the formal signing of the US-Iran agreement on June 19, details regarding the exact timeline and operational procedures remain unclear.
Despite these uncertainties, both the ICS and the IMO emphasized the importance of restoring unrestricted maritime access through the Strait and reaffirmed the principle of freedom of navigation.
In its statement, the IMO described the agreement as an important return to peace, diplomacy, dialogue and multilateral cooperation. The organization noted that the development represents a significant step toward restoring safety for ships and seafarers operating in the region while protecting the fundamental right of vessels to navigate freely through international waterways.
Kazakos echoed that message, arguing that freedom of navigation had been severely undermined during the conflict. He noted that many seafarers had been injured and others had tragically lost their lives during the crisis. Looking ahead, he stressed the need for a permanent restoration of unrestricted vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz, without tolls, special clearance systems or any other barriers to navigation.
Throughout the conflict, Secretary-General Dominguez repeatedly raised concerns about the dangers facing commercial shipping and the difficult conditions endured by seafarers working in the region. The IMO reiterated that commercial vessels should never become targets during geopolitical disputes and expressed its deepest sympathies to all victims of the conflict.
The organization paid particular tribute to the innocent seafarers who lost their lives or suffered during the crisis, while also extending its condolences to their families. As hopes for a lasting peace increase, the maritime community is now looking toward the safe reopening of the Strait and the long-awaited return home of thousands of stranded crew members.
