Seafarers welcome breakthrough US-Iran deal after prolonged Gulf tensions

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1300 EAT on Monday 15 June 2026

Seafarers’ advocates have cautiously welcomed a tentative deal to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, raising hopes that thousands of stranded crew members could soon return home after months of uncertainty.

The agreement is expected to ease a major disruption in one of the world’s most important shipping routes, where an estimated 20,000 seafarers have been left stranded amid escalating tensions.

United States President Donald Trump said the strait would reopen on Friday, with Iran ending its “toll booth” system and the US lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Secretary-General Thomas Kazakos said the announcement brought relief to maritime workers who had been “caught in the middle of this war”.

“Their safe departure from the region must be a top priority, but this will take time,” Kazakos said in a statement provided to Al Jazeera.

The agreement was also welcomed by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, with General Secretary Manoj Yadav saying thousands of Indian sailors stranded in the region could benefit if the deal is implemented.

“If this agreement becomes a reality, we would like to extend our congratulations, as thousands of Indian sailors are currently stranded there,” Yadav said.

The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) said on Monday it would begin advancing plans to evacuate seafarers stranded around the waterway since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the evacuation process would take time to ensure “all necessary safety and security guarantees are in place”.

According to the ICS, about 500 ships are currently waiting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
IMO data shows that Iran and the US carried out 46 known attacks on international shipping lines during the conflict, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 seafarers.

Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, which tracks the wellbeing of seafarers worldwide, said it could take time before crews feel confident that the Strait of Hormuz is safe to navigate, regardless of any agreement reached.

“From a seafarer perspective, a ceasefire and talk of ‘reopening’ are encouraging, but similar declarations have been made before. Ultimately, this comes down to risk and trust,” Jones told Al Jazeera.

“‘Open’ is not a switch that can simply be turned on; it is the result of a collective judgement by shipowners, charterers, insurers, masters and crews that a voyage is safe and acceptable,” he added.

Jones said restoring confidence would require time and evidence, including sustained peace, credible reductions in threats, reliable communication channels and several successful, incident-free transits through the waterway.

-Aljazeera

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here