Beneath the surface of the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding Gulf lies a biological sanctuary. The region is home to around 7,000 dugongs and fewer than 100 Arabian humpback whales—a nonmigratory population that cannot leave these waters.
The United States and Iran last week agreed to a two-week ceasefire, following weeks of escalating tensions that disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
But the ceasefire has not cleared the water. Naval mines, residual military activity, and congested shipping lanes mean the strait remains a high-risk environment—not just for vessels but