London, June 23 (QNA) - The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced on Tuesday that it will begin evacuating more than 11,000 seafarers stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement that the large-scale operation will be carried out in close coordination with Iran, the Sultanate of Oman, other coastal states in the region, the United States, and the shipping industry.

He added that the organization has received the necessary security assurances and verified the availability of safe navigation conditions to support the evacuation operations.

The operation is considered one of the largest maritime evacuations in the region, amid intensified international efforts to ensure the continuity of global trade through one of the world's most strategic shipping routes. (QNA)