Who are the seafarers caught in the US-Israeli war on Iran?
At least 25 seafarers have been killed in the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in February, according to the International Maritime Organization. Commercial vessels have faced repeated attacks in the waterway, and maritime incidents occur daily, while GCC states told the UN Security Council that Iran launched more than 7,000 missiles and drones against Persian Gulf states. Crews remain under constant danger as tanker traffic runs below normal but has not stalled, and shipping companies continue to divest tanker stocks amid the market selloff. The human toll at sea is mounting even as diplomatic signals remain mixed.
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- ✓ At least 25 seafarers have been killed in the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, according to the International Maritime Organization.
- ✓ GCC states told the UN Security Council that Iran launched more than 7,000 missiles and drones against Persian Gulf states since the war began in February.
- ✓ A senior UN official warned that maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf were occurring daily.
- ✓ UKMTO assessed that Hormuz shipping is below normal but not stalled.
What changed
The International Maritime Organization's tally of at least 25 seafarer deaths since February provides the first confirmed casualty count for merchant mariners in the conflict.
Live updates
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IMO reports at least 25 seafarers killed in Hormuz since war began
At least 25 seafarers have been killed in the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in February, according to the International Maritime Organization. Commercial vessels have faced repeated attacks in the waterway, and maritime incidents occur daily, while GCC states told the UN Security Council that Iran launched more than 7,000 missiles and drones against Persian Gulf states. Crews remain under constant danger as tanker traffic runs below normal but has not stalled, and shipping companies continue to divest tanker stocks amid the market selloff. The human toll at sea is mounting even as diplomatic signals remain mixed.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's busiest oil chokepoints, and repeated attacks on commercial vessels have made it a high-risk zone for merchant mariners. GCC states' UN Security Council briefing frames the maritime danger as part of a wider Iranian missile and drone campaign against Gulf territories since February. UKMTO's assessment that shipping is below normal but not stalled shows the waterway remains open despite the strain. Shipping industry divestment and DNV warnings about high-risk waters indicate that commercial actors are pricing in continued danger. What remains unresolved is whether crew casualties will rise as attacks persist and whether any diplomatic de-escalation could restore normal traffic.
What is confirmed
- At least 25 seafarers have been killed in the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, according to the International Maritime Organization.
- GCC states told the UN Security Council that Iran launched more than 7,000 missiles and drones against Persian Gulf states since the war began in February.
- A senior UN official warned that maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf were occurring daily.
- UKMTO assessed that Hormuz shipping is below normal but not stalled.
- Commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters have come under repeated attack since the United States and Israel launched the war.
Still unconfirmed
- Iran claims two fresh Hormuz tanker strikes, according to TradeWinds News, but the claim lacks independent confirmation.
What to watch next
- Whether the IMO death toll rises as attacks continue in the Strait of Hormuz
- Whether UKMTO revises its assessment that Hormuz shipping remains below normal but not stalled
- Whether GCC states provide further evidence of Iranian missile and drone attacks at the UN Security Council
confidence 50%Sources used for this update (20)
- www.aljazeera.com — Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
- www.euronews.com — French debt | Euronews
- www.khaleejtimes.com — Khaleej Times - Dubai News, UAE News, Gulf, News, Latest news,...
- tribune.com.pk — Houthis say they attacked East-West oil pumping stations; no Saudi confirmation
- aaronparnas.substack.com — NEWS: Trump Mobilizes ‘Election Army’ and Trump Seethes About Obama, MAGA Influencers Charged, Bolsonaro Declares Himself Pres....
- Al Jazeera — Who are the seafarers caught in the US-Israeli war on Iran?
- Reuters — Vanishing vessels and missing sailors: The Iran war's human cost at sea
- TradeWinds News — Hunter's unpaid VLCC charter bill rises to $86m in October
- The National — Constant state of danger takes toll on shipping crews in Strait of Hormuz
- United Against Nuclear Iran | UANI — Iran Shipping Update – November 9, 2026
- TradeWinds News — Joakim Hannisdahl’s hedge fund divests tanker stocks in market selloff
- safety4sea — DNV: High-risk waters test shipping’s resilience and responsibility
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