London, UK – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has called for the establishment of a safe maritime corridor in the Arabian Gulf. This aims to facilitate the departure of some 20,000 seafarers stranded on hundreds of ships that have been unable to sail due to the military escalation related to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Furthermore, Tehran has issued threats to target ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
International move to secure navigation
The proposal was put forward during a meeting of the organization’s governing body in London, with support from several countries including Bahrain, Japan, Panama, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The United States also endorsed the initiative. The framework aims to establish a safe passage allowing commercial vessels to leave the region without being exposed to military risks. Hundreds of ships remain stranded in their current locations.
Protecting lives is an urgent priority
The Secretary General of the organization, Arsenio Dominguez, emphasized that the primary objective of the initiative is to protect the lives of seafarers. He also noted that at least seven had been killed as a result of the escalation. He added that seafarers should not be victims of geopolitical tensions and called for an immediate de-escalation to ensure their safety and enable them to leave the Gulf safely.
Military movements and economic concerns
In the same vein, Mark Rutte announced that NATO is considering possible measures to address the situation. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump called on countries to contribute to monitoring the strait to ensure the continued flow of oil tankers. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for global trade, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passing through it. This amplifies concerns about the crisis’s repercussions on international markets.
