From the New York Times, I'm Natalie Ketrow-F.

This is the Daily.

The U.S. and Iran are each signaling that they may be making progress

toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but they haven't reached a deal yet,

and the crucial shipping channel remains shut.

Hanging in the balance are thousands of crew members

who have been stranded on their ships

since the fighting started three months ago.

Today, we hear from two seafarers who got stuck

about what it's like to be trapped in the middle of this war zone and what it would

mean to get everyone out.

It's Friday, May 29th. Can you hear me?

Yeah, I can hear you, I can hear you, I didn't hear.

Okay, great.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us.

Yeah, no problem, man.

So, just to start, can you introduce yourself, please?

Yeah, my name is Captain Weryandar Wichakarma.

I'm sailing on LPG tankers since last five years and before I was captain on oil chemical ships.

I started my career in 2000, so now it's already 26 years in the shipping.

Captain Vishwakarma has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz dozens of times.

But before the war began, he said the wider world didn't know much about it.

...