Strait of Hormuz evacuation plan to begin for ships stranded in Persian Gulf, maritime organization says

More than 11,000 seafarers stuck in the Persian Gulf will begin to exit through the Strait of Hormuz under a large-scale evacuation plan backed by Iran and United States, the International Maritime Organization said Tuesday. "We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations," IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement. The 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," Dominguez said. Oman's Navy issued a bulletin that said ships will exit in a phased approach through two temporary maritime corridors to ensure the safety of the seafarers. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.