-- The ceasefire between the US and Iran has raised cautious hopes for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies, though shipping disruptions and security risks remain significant, the United Nations said on Thursday.
The Hormuz, which links the Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, has become a flashpoint since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in February, driving up oil prices and threatening maritime safety.
The UN said early signals after the truce have been mixed, with the US and Iran scheduled to hold talks in Pakistan over the weekend to solidify the ceasefire and pave the way for a broader de-escalation.
The Strait is a key transit corridor for energy exports from major producers including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the UAE, and even limited disruption has global repercussions, from spiking energy prices to delaying supply chains.
Shipping traffic via the waterway has dropped sharply, with the International Maritime Organization reporting that about 150 vessels transited it daily before the conflict.
The number fell to just four or five ships per day after the outbreak of the conflict, largely restricted to vessels deemed "non-hostile" by Iranian authorities.
The IMO estimates that about 2,000 vessels, including oil and gas tankers, bulk carriers and cargo ships, are currently stranded in the Arabian Gulf, along with around 20,000 seafarers.
The UN's maritime agency has recorded 21 confirmed attacks on international shipping in the region, resulting in 10 fatalities and several injuries.
"The ceasefire is welcome news for the 20,000 seafarers who are awaiting evacuation," said Damien Chevallier, director of the IMO's Maritime Safety Division. Chevallier said that many had spent more than a month in "a tense and volatile situation".
The IMO is working with relevant parties to establish mechanisms for the safe transit of vessels via the Strait, prioritizing the evacuation of stranded crews and the restoration of navigational safety.
"The priority now is to ensure the safety of navigation to guarantee an evacuation. We do not wish to see a return to escalation," Chevallier said.
The reopening of the Hormuz is widely seen as essential to stabilizing global energy flows. The UN said shipping is expected to resume along established routes governed by the Traffic Separation Scheme, a system proposed by Iran and Oman and adopted by the IMO to organize maritime traffic.
However, industry participants are likely to proceed cautiously. "Ship operators will need to carefully assess the risk situation," Chevallier said, adding that a return to routine trade would depend on sustained improvements in maritime security.