An international coalition on Tuesday announced a large-scale plan to free hundreds of ships trapped around the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation, developed by the United Nations-chartered International Maritime Organization, is backed by the U.S., Iran, Oman and other Gulf countries, the group said. It intends to put an end to the monthslong ordeal that began when Iran closed the strait in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks in February.
The deal will mark the end of “months of hardship and distress” for more than 11,000 seafarers who have been stuck in the strait, said Arsenio Dominguez, the IMO secretary-general. He called it “a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping.”
“We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations,” he said in a statement.
