The United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) has suspended its planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a Singapore‑flagged vessel passing through the waterway, according to the BBC.
IMO chief Arsenio Domínguez said that while several boats have already been evacuated, the agency wants to ensure that adequate safety guarantees remain in place before proceeding further.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it is too early to determine who was responsible for the strike. U.S. investigators are assessing whether the attack was ordered by senior elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or was the result of a rogue decision by lower‑level personnel.
Market reaction
Crude oil prices rose following the news, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) trading about 2.28% higher at roughly $71.35 per barrel.