The U.S.-Iran deal due Friday may offer limited relief to tens of thousands of commercial mariners trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, but unions stress it is only a first step. Both U.S. and Iranian forces have detained and attacked commercial vessels during a 109-day conflict, leaving at least 14 mariners dead and many more stranded. About 600 ships remain trapped and nearly 18,000 Indian seafarers are reported to be in the region facing shortages and poor conditions. Unions demand a U.N. probe and compensation while evacuation plans are coordinated with the IMO.
Dead or Stranded: Tens of Thousands of Commercial Mariners Suffer in the Strait of Hormuz
Vessels are seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, off the port city of Khasab on Oman's northern Musandam Peninsula, in a May 17, 2026 file photo. / Credit: AFP/Getty
A U.S.-Iran deal scheduled for signing on Friday may offer a glimmer of relief for tens of thousands of commercial seafarers trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, but unions and shipping analysts warn it is unlikely to immediately end what many describe as a brutal ordeal.
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) called any agreement "at best, the beginning," and said words on paper must be turned into concrete action for transport workers who have paid the price of the conflict. The ITF is coordinating evacuation plans with the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO), but large-scale repatriation does not appear imminent.
/ Credit: CBS News
Human Cost and Conditions
During a 109-day period of hostilities, both Iranian and U.S. forces have detained and struck commercial vessels accused of violating wartime restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters. At least 14 commercial mariners have died during the fighting, including three Indian nationals killed in a U.S. strike on an Iranian-flagged tanker. Many more have been wounded, detained, or left to endure overcrowded ships with shortages of food, fresh water and medical care.
Business intelligence firm Kpler estimates roughly 600 vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. Shipping companies warn it could take weeks — or even months — before traffic through the narrow, strategically vital strait returns to normal. The strait is the only maritime exit from the Gulf.
Members of the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan student organization shout slogans against President Trump during a protest over the killing of three Indian sailors in a U.S. strike on a commercial vessel, June 15, 2026, in New Delhi, India. / Credit: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times/Getty
Indian Mariners Hit Hard
Indian unions say nearly 18,000 Indian mariners remain in the region. Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Forward Seamen's Union of India, described conditions aboard some vessels as "unbearable," and said many sailors have reported feeling "like [they are] in jail." A fourth Indian mariner, Second Officer Nishanth Uirthanathan, died aboard the MT Celestial Sea after the vessel was diverted to Duqm Port in Oman and he awaited medical evacuation. Union officials said his body remained aboard the ship for three days without refrigeration.
Some crew members have been able to abandon ships near Iranian ports and travel overland back to India, often without receiving outstanding wages. Union leaders note that many seafarers are focused on pay and basic conditions rather than on whether a ship is sanctioned or subject to other legal complications.
Military Actions, Investigations and Compensation Demands
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says it has "disabled" nine vessels for failing to comply with a blockade and turned back 135 others. The Forward Seamen's Union has called for a U.N. investigation into the U.S. strike on the MT Marivex and is demanding at least $5 million in compensation to the families of the three mariners killed in the strike on the Palau-flagged M/T Settebello and for the seafarer who died on the Celestial Sea.
"We want to know the full truth of what happened," said Aditya Sharma, the grandfather of one of the men killed. "Our hearts are shattered."
Outlook
Even with a diplomatic breakthrough, the scale of trapped vessels and the logistical challenge of evacuating and repatriating crews mean progress will likely be gradual. Unions, the IMO and governments face an urgent task: convert diplomatic commitments into safe, timely evacuations and compensation where appropriate.
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