400 Ships Stranded in Gulf Amid Middle East War: UN

New York: The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has warned that the Middle East war has severely disrupted global maritime trade, leaving hundreds of commercial vessels and thousands of crew members stranded in the Persian Gulf.
The IMO said Friday that six months after the war began, more than 400 commercial ships and 6,000 crew members remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said that while some vessels and crews have managed to leave, roughly 400 ships have been unable to exit since the conflict began. He described the situation in the Strait of Hormuz — through which about 20% of the world’s oil trade passes — as unresolved and deeply concerning.
The agency confirmed that nearly 70 attacks on international commercial vessels have occurred since the war began on February 28, killing 19 crew members. Dominguez stressed that disruptions to supplies of essential goods such as fuel and fertilizer are having “serious” effects on economies worldwide. He said thousands of innocent workers continue to face constant danger and uncertainty, calling the situation deeply troubling, and urged the international community, member states, and shipping companies to show political will to restore freedom of navigation through the strait.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum in June and began talks toward a final agreement, but negotiations remain stalled over disputes concerning security guarantees and free maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz.