UN launches sailor evacuation as Hormuz tensions simmer

The United Nations is preparing a major evacuation operation for more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Gulf, even as fresh tensions emerge over the fragile agreement that ended the US-Iran conflict.

The move comes as shipping slowly returns to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical trade routes, while Washington and Tehran continue to dispute key details of their post-war understanding.

Race to Free Thousands Trapped at Sea

The International Maritime Organization said it had secured safety guarantees for a large-scale operation to remove thousands of seafarers caught in the region during months of disruption.

IMO chief Arsenio Dominguez said the mission was being coordinated with Iran, Oman, the United States and other regional partners. Temporary navigation corridors through the Strait of Hormuz are expected to be used as authorities work to restore normal maritime traffic.

For thousands of sailors stranded aboard vessels for months, the operation offers a long-awaited route home.

Rubio Draws Red Line Over Hormuz Tolls

As the evacuation plan takes shape, Washington is pushing back against Iranian efforts to charge vessels passing through the strategic waterway.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio used a visit to the Gulf to warn that no nation has the right to impose tolls on an international shipping route. His comments underline continuing friction between Tehran and Washington despite last week's agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the artery through which a significant share of global energy supplies moves, making any disruption a concern far beyond the region.

Nuclear Dispute Clouds Fragile Peace

The ceasefire may be holding, but disagreements over Iran's nuclear programme are rapidly resurfacing.

President Donald Trump claimed Tehran had agreed to extensive international inspections. Iranian officials quickly pushed back, insisting bombed nuclear facilities would not be opened to inspectors in the way Washington suggests.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also ruled out any negotiations over the country's defensive capabilities, while regional leaders stressed that ballistic missiles were not part of the agreement.

Shipping Recovery Still Far From Complete

Although traffic has resumed, maritime activity remains well below pre-conflict levels.

More than 170 vessels have passed through the reopened strait since the agreement was signed, but hundreds of ships are still waiting to move. The closure earlier this year sent oil prices soaring and disrupted global supplies of energy and key commodities.

For governments, markets and shipping firms alike, the message is clear: the route is open again, but stability remains far from guaranteed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24yr796emzo