Iran war: Around 400 ships still stuck in Persian Gulf, report says

Six months into the Iran war, a significant number of vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf, according to a recent report. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) stated that up to 400 ships, carrying approximately 6,000 sailors, have been unable to safely navigate out of the region since the conflict's inception in late February.

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While some ships and their crews were able to leave the Persian Gulf, up to 400 ships with around 6,000 sailors have not been able to depart safely since the beginning of the conflict.

Arsenio Dominguez, the IMO's Secretary-General, highlighted the severe impact on maritime operations, noting that the organization has verified 70 attacks on international ships in the Persian Gulf during this period. These attacks have resulted in the tragic deaths of 19 seafarers. Dominguez stressed that the deteriorating security situation harms everyone, but is particularly distressing for the thousands of innocent sailors caught in the crossfire.

The Strait of Hormus, a critical chokepoint for global trade, has become a focal point of the conflict between Iran and the United States. While the waterway was open before the war, efforts to resolve the conflict have stalled. Iran seeks concessions from the U.S. government, while President Trump aims to exert pressure through an "economic war."

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The poor security situation harms everyone, but it is particularly distressing for the thousands of innocent sailors who are affected by it.

In response to Iran's alleged threats and attacks on shipping companies, the U.S. Navy maintains a maritime blockade on Iranian ports to cut off its revenue. According to the U.S. military's Centcom, American forces have rerouted 82 merchant ships, disabled three, and boarded two as part of the blockade. Despite President Trump's recent claims that the Strait of Hormuz is mine-free and fully controlled by the U.S., an Israeli expert cautioned against complacency, suggesting that navigating tankers at night under U.S. military protection does not equate to true control or a return to pre-war conditions.

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That the president says the Strait of Hormuz is open does not mean it is actually open. Bringing tankers through the strait at night with transponders off and under the protection of the US military is not the same as controlling the Strait of Hormus or restoring the situation before the war.