Washington, United States. The International Maritime Organisation has welcomed the peace agreement announced between the United States and Iran, describing it as a crucial return to peace, dialogue, multilateralism and diplomacy. The organisation said the deal marked an important step toward restoring safety in the Strait of Hormuz and safeguarding freedom of navigation.
IMO response
According to the IMO, at least 46 attacks against international shipping have been verified in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began on February 28, 2026.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said he welcomed the agreement with great satisfaction, adding that it represented an important step toward restoring safety in this vital maritime corridor for seafarers and ships.
He also said the agreement was important for safeguarding the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation, a concern that remains central for global shipping and maritime centres such as Cyprus.
Cyprus reaction
Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry also welcomed the development. In a post on Monday, it said the agreement was a critical step towards lasting de-escalation in the region, including Lebanon, and the restoration of freedom of navigation, while providing new impetus towards a comprehensive negotiating framework for a sustainable resolution of the nuclear issue and all other critical issues.
The ministry also called on all parties to seize this opportunity and remain committed to dialogue, sobriety, and diplomatic engagement.
Agreement details
The United States and Iran announced that they had reached an agreement that will take effect on Friday, June 19. Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump said Washington was lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen after the agreement is signed.
Shipping sector monitoring
The development is being closely watched by the Cypriot shipping sector, as Cyprus has both flag-state and shipmanagement interests linked to vessels operating in the wider Gulf region.
The Shipping Deputy Ministry previously said that 19 ships under the Cypriot flag were in the Arabian Gulf region, adding that both the ships and the seafarers working on them were safe.
It also said the majority of those ships operate on a permanent basis in the region under the Cypriot flag and mainly provide specialised or auxiliary maritime services.