The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, has launched a large-scale operation to safely navigate 11,000 seafarers and their vessels, which have been stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the war between the United States and Iran, through the Strait of Hormuz.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated in a release on June 23 (local time) that "this large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with all coastal states in the region, including Iran and Oman, as well as the United States and the maritime industry."

"We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified safe navigation conditions to support this operation," he emphasized, adding, "We remain committed to ensuring the safety of seafarers and the continuity of global trade."

Following the outbreak of war in late February after invasions by the United States and Israel, Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz by threatening or attacking vessels.

Subsequently, the United States and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on June 17 to end the war and agreed to work toward restoring vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels.

A spokesperson for the IMO told Reuters that they "have begun notifying ships to commence movement."

The IMO shared a notice sent by Oman to the vessels, which states that two temporary shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz will be used for the withdrawal plan, with further instructions to be delivered to each vessel via individual contact.

Reuters reported, citing Oman's state media, that Oman coordinated with the IMO to provide temporary maritime corridors for ships intending to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Vessels wishing to use the temporary lanes must consult with the IMO in advance, based on coordinates released by the IMO and Omani authorities.

This measure aims to guarantee freedom of navigation without imposing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, which is considered an international waterway under international law.

According to the maritime intelligence platform Kpler, at least 36 merchant vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on June 22, marking the highest number recorded since the war began on February 28.

Secretary-General Dominguez stated, "I welcome the peace agreement between the United States and Iran after the hardships endured by innocent seafarers and the negative impact on the entire world," adding that "this is a decisive step toward restoring maritime security and ending unacceptable attacks on civilian shipping."

Dominguez also expressed his condolences, saying, "We honor the 14 innocent seafarers who tragically lost their lives during this war."

Although the Strait of Hormuz has partially reopened and traffic is increasing following the U.S.-Iran peace agreement, tensions between the two sides over control of the waterway persist.

Iran and Oman announced in a joint statement on this day that they are jointly reviewing the imposition of transit service fees for the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the peace MOU, Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz open free of charge for 60 days, but there is a possibility that it may attempt to collect tolls under various pretexts once this period expires.

While Iran claims the Strait of Hormuz is subject to its sovereignty and has stated it will maintain control, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently visiting Gulf nations, made his opposition to Iran's attempt to impose tolls clear, stating, "No country can impose tolls or fees on international waterways."