How the war in Iran is impacting stranded seafarers

WBUR | By Here & Now Newsroom

Published April 23, 2026 at 12:02 PM EDT

About 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf as the U.S. and Iran remain in a standoff over the control of the Strait of Hormuz.

John Canias, maritime operations coordinator for the International Transport Workers’ Federation, joins Here & Now‘s Scott Tong to discuss the conditions those workers are facing.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Related Content

Meta will lay off 10% of its staff

John Ruwitch

The cuts follow losses in two pivotal court cases and the company's push to invest in artificial intelligence.
Airlines in Europe slash thousands of flights as Iran war cuts jet fuel supplies

Joel Rose

The soaring cost of jet fuel is forcing European airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights, while energy authorities warned of a possible jet fuel shortage if supplies aren't replenished soon.
Author details the spy network that took on America's post-WWII Nazi groups

Terry Gross

In The Secret War Against Hate, Steven J. Ross details the racist, anti-Semitic groups that sprang up in the latter half of the 20th century — and the spy network that worked to bring them to justice.
Can a mentalist trick Trump? Oz Pearlman will try in a room full of journalists

Rachel Treisman

The White House Correspondents' Dinner will be headlined by a mentalist instead of a comedian. Oz Pearlman tells NPR he hopes to unify, delight and puzzle the crowd — but can't reveal how.
Ukraine's fast-growing defense tech sector takes center stage in Iran war

As Ukraine seeks to shift its image from not only a recipient of military aid but also a provider, its battle-tested anti-drone technology is taking center stage as the Iran war exposed inefficiencies in global air defense.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.