International concern is growing over the fate of ships and crews trapped in the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating Middle East conflict, with reports spreading that Iran is introducing an investigation process and hefty shipping fees for ships using the waterway.
About 20,000 sailors and 2,000 ships are currently stranded in the Gulf, according to the IMO.
“I am ready to start working immediately on negotiations to establish a humanitarian corridor to evacuate all trapped ships and sailors,” said Arsenio Dominguez, IMO secretary general.
However, when a representative from the Cook Islands asked about the special conditions required for the ships to be released through a safe channel, the Iranian delegation at the meeting refused to give an answer.
Iran distanced itself from the IMO statement on Thursday, saying the statement failed to address US and Israeli attacks on Iran. China expressed support for the security zone proposal in principle, while stressing the need for more clarity on how it will be implemented.
