Arsenio Dominguez, IMO Sec-Gen since Jan 1, 2024, in the news as shipping talks and sanctions clash loom over the Strait of Hormuz and carbon rules.
Trump has instructed the DOJ to investigate oil companies for alleged price gouging as global fuel prices ease from wartime highs; experts caution the process is complex and may not quickly translate into cheaper gasoline for consumers.
For over eight weeks, around 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Gulf due to the Iran-U.S. conflict. A fragile ceasefire has brought hope, but the blockade of Iranian ports persists. Ships face attacks, shortages, and communication disruptions, intensifying the crisis for crews and global trade.
The two-month Iran war has seen markets buoyed as talks continue; Washington has pressed Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while Iran reviews US proposals. A US strike on an Iranian oil tanker was reported as tensions rise, and Pakistan-hosted discussions are ongoing.
The International Maritime Organization has secured safety guarantees to begin evacuating more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf as Iran, the U.S. and regional states pursue a phased relief through the Strait of Hormuz. Ship traffic remains well below prewar levels as talks continue and routes are established.