The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow stretch of ocean between Iran and Oman. It's only about 30 miles wide, but it's one of the most important waterways on Earth.

In late February 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran. In response, Iran effectively closed the strait, and ships stopped moving through it. By early June, it had been blocked for about 94 days, according to CNN.

That's a huge deal for the global economy. But it's also a serious problem for the people who work on those ships. About 20,000 sailors are now stuck in the Persian Gulf, trapped on roughly 1,500 to 2,000 vessels that can't dock, the United Nations says. Most of them are workers from countries like the Philippines, India, and Thailand.

Being stuck there is dangerous. Some ships have been hit by missiles or seized by force. At least ten sailors have been killed or gone missing, and many haven't been paid or sent home.

World leaders are still trying to reopen the strait. Until they do, the ships and the people on them wait.