Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between
the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, IMO Secretary-General Mr.
Arsenio Dominguez issued the following statement:
“After months of hardship and distress for thousands of innocent
seafarers, and negative impact for the whole world, I welcome with deep
satisfaction the peace agreement concluded between the United States and Iran,
marking a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an
end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping.
I want to pay tribute to the fourteen innocent seafarers who
tragically lost their lives during this conflict. Their dedication in service
of global trade will not be forgotten.
We will begin the implementation of the evacuation plan for over
11,000 seafarers still stranded in the region. This large-scale operation will
be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal
States in the region, the United States and the maritime industry.
We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have
thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these
operations.
We remain fully committed to ensuring the safety of seafarers
and the continuity of global trade.”