The Director General of the maritime wing of the United Nations organization has issued an urgent call for the release of seamen held aboard the two ships, namely the MSC Francesca and MSC Epaminondas, that were captured by Iran. As thousands of seamen are still marooned in the Persian Gulf, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is the top mediator of Iran, rejects the idea of reopening the ‘Strait of Hormuz,citing the American naval blockage as violating the existing ceasefire agreement.