Thousands of sailors remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as conflict hampers evacuations

More than 600 commercial vessels are still immobilised in the Persian Gulf, leaving tens of thousands of crew members unable to leave the region, officials said. The International Transport Workers' Federation described the situation as only the beginning of a longer process, noting that the upcoming U.S.-Iran agreement may eventually ease the crisis but will not provide immediate relief.

At least 14 mariners have died since the conflict began, including three Indian nationals killed in a recent U.S. strike on an Iranian tanker. The Forward Seamen's Union of India reported that conditions aboard many ships have deteriorated, with crews experiencing shortages of food, water and medical care. "They were absolutely not feeling well. Many called us and said they are not able to sail further," union secretary Manoj Yadav told CBS News.

India's commercial shipping ministry estimates that nearly 18,000 Indian sailors are currently in the Gulf area. Some have described their confinement as feeling like "being in jail," and a fourth Indian crew member died on board the MT Celestial Sea after a delayed medical evacuation.

U.S. Central Command said it had boarded the Celestial Sea on May 20 after suspecting a breach of its blockade, later releasing the vessel and directing it to alter course. The command has also disabled nine ships and turned back 135 others for non-compliance.

The transport workers' federation said it is working with the United Nations International Maritime Organization on evacuation plans, urging that diplomatic statements be turned into concrete actions for the affected crews. The union has called for a United Nations investigation into the strike on the MT Marivex and for compensation for the families of the mariners killed in recent attacks.