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Türkiye’s efforts to extract 14 Turkish-owned vessels stranded near the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict continue, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said Saturday.
The ships do not carry the Turkish flag but are owned by Turkish entities, Uraloglu said, adding that authorities are working with relevant institutions to assess options for safely removing them from the area.
"We are closely monitoring what can be done to extract them," he added.
After the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed as Tehran restricted access and insurers withdrew war-risk cover.
Out of a total of 15 Turkish-owned vessels initially in the area, only one has so far been able to pass through the strait after receiving permission from Iranian authorities, leaving 14 still waiting, carrying 171 personnel.
Along with the stranded Turkish vessels, around 800 vessels of various types, including six cruise ships with passengers, are waiting in the strait, Uraloglu said earlier.
Addressing the impact of Iran tensions, Uraloglu said transport operations have so far avoided major disruption, although risks remain.
He explained that airspace over southern Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon remains closed, limiting flight routes across the region.
However, alternative routes and airports are still operational.
The minister said Türkiye has been coordinating closely with its foreign ministry to facilitate the return of citizens affected by the disruptions, and these efforts have also extended to foreign nationals seeking to return to their home countries.
"Flights are continuing to other destinations, and we have carried out, and continue to carry out, a serious operation to ensure people can return to their countries," Uraloglu said.
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