Croatian sailors remain in Straight of Hormuz as potential deal looms

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that a potential agreement with Iran could formally bring an end to the latest conflict in the Middle East. Earlier, President Donald Trump said the deal was “largely negotiated” and would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, meanwhile, reiterated that it is not seeking nuclear weapons and stressed that any agreement must preserve the country’s honor and dignity.

“Some progress has been made - significant progress - but final progress has not been made. The ultimate goal is that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. The president has been clear about that. They will never possess a nuclear weapon — certainly not as long as Donald Trump is president of the United States,” Rubio said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed reports of progress toward a potential agreement between the United States and Iran.

“I welcome the progress towards an agreement between the US and Iran. We need a deal that truly de-escalates the conflict, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and guarantees full freedom of navigation without tolls. Europe will continue working with international partners to seize this moment for a lasting diplomatic solution and to contain the spillover of this conflict, notably on supply chains and energy prices,” she wrote on X.

Meanwhile, around 180 Croatian sailors are believed to be among thousands of seafarers stranded aboard ships in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing blockade. Two Croatian citizens are among the crew of the Panama-flagged cargo ship MSC Francesca, which was seized by Iranian forces last month.

Secretary General of the Seafarers’ Union, Neven Melvan, said the sailors are in “an extremely difficult situation,” adding:

“They are effectively being held on board and are unable to leave. They are not in immediate danger and are being provided with essentials, but their situation remains serious. They are allowed brief contact with their families every other day. We are working toward the safe and secure repatriation of our citizens, though it is difficult to assess how realistic that is at this stage.”