The International Maritime Organization has confirmed that approximately 115 vessels and 2,500 seafarers have been evacuated from the Strait of Hormuz since Tuesday, marking a significant acceleration in the crisis at the world's most vital energy chokepoint.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez provided the figures on Friday, highlighting the rapid deterioration of security conditions in the narrow waterway that handles roughly a fifth of global oil consumption.
The evacuations represent a major operational disruption for global shipping, forcing carriers to reroute or suspend operations in the region.
The surge in evacuations comes as the United Nations prepares for a larger-scale operation to remove approximately 11,000 sailors currently stranded in the strait.
This broader effort is reportedly backed by both Iran and the United States, signaling a rare moment of diplomatic coordination amid heightened tensions.
The development follows rare talks between the UAE and Iran on Hormuz security, which occurred as vessel evacuations accelerated.