IMO chief urges de-escalation over military response in Strait of Hormuz crisis

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Mr. Arsenio Dominguez on Thursday (2 April) said it has urged States to support diplomatic efforts to secure the evacuation of around 20,000 seafarers still stranded in the Persian Gulf, and enable humanitarian corridors for urgent assistance.  

During a virtual meeting for Foreign Ministers from more than 40 countries hosted by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary-General Dominguez called on all Parties to respect the rights and freedoms of navigation and stressed the paramount importance of the safety and wellbeing of seafarers. 

He emphasized the need for de-escalation and operational maritime solutions rather than purely military approaches. 

“Fragmented responses are no longer sufficient to resolve this crisis. What is urgently required is diplomatic engagement, practical and neutral solutions, and coordinated international action,” he said following the meeting. 

“IMO is advancing a maritime evacuation framework built on coastal State cooperation, security guarantees and operational coordination, with the clear objective of releasing stranded vessels, enabling safe crew rotations and preventing an environmental disaster.”

Since the beginning of the conflict on 28 February 2026, IMO has confirmed 21 attacks on commercial shipping, resulting in the deaths of 10 seafarers with several more severely injured. 

Around 20,000 civilian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf, facing dwindling supplies, fatigue and severe psychological stress.

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 6 April, 2026