IMO warns of Hormuz passage: 6,000 seafarers stranded

Military escalation

The warning comes against the backdrop of an escalating military situation. As reported by three sources, among others, the US military struck dozens of targets in Iran on the night of Wednesday. The trigger was prior attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, according to two sources, Iranian forces fired on US targets in the Gulf states of Kuwait and Bahrain, which are considered Washington's allies.

According to the IMO, civilian shipping is particularly affected. Around 6,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the region because the strait has been effectively blocked for weeks. Those affected can neither set sail nor head for safe ports as long as attacks on ships continue. The IMO is therefore demanding that all states involved de-escalate the situation immediately so that ships can leave the region.

Sanctions and failed agreement

Parallel to the military clashes, the US has reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil. According to the IMO, the background is US President Donald Trump's declaration that an agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, which had temporarily ended the fighting, has failed. This is likely to further intensify the economic pressure on Iran.

It remains unclear how diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran will proceed. The future of further negotiations is "unklar," according to sources in London. The IMO is appealing to all parties to exercise "maximale Zurückhaltung." The London-based international shipping organization views with concern one of the world's busiest trade routes.

Economic significance and consequences

For the global economy, a prolonged blockade of the strait would be serious. A significant share of global oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz; any disruption would have immediate effects on energy prices and supply chains. The IMO stresses that the safety of civilian maritime transport must take priority – regardless of political and military tensions.

The warning was broadcast on July 8, 2026 on the program Deutschlandfunk. By that point, according to the IMO, attacks on ships in the region had accumulated over the previous 48 hours. Dominguez spoke of a "vulnerablen" situation for the crews. The organization says it is continuously reviewing whether and when the passage can again be considered safe.

International shipping associations and shipowners are responding with increased caution. Several major liner companies had already suspended or rerouted their voyages through the strait in recent weeks. The IMO recommends that reassessments of route planning be made only on the basis of official security advisories.