The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has halted the planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a cargo ship transiting the waterway.
IMO chief Arsenio Domínguez said that while several vessels had already been evacuated, the agency needed to guarantee that “necessary safety guarantees” remain in place before proceeding.
The British maritime security agency UKMTO reported on Thursday that a ship was struck 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dhait by an “unknown projectile.” No casualties were reported.
Maritime‑risk firm Vanguard noted that the Singapore‑flagged vessel Ever Lovely continued through the strait despite the attack.
Hundreds of ships and thousands of seafarers have been immobilized in the Gulf since February because of the US‑Israel conflict with Iran.
The UN evacuation effort was announced on Tuesday after the strait was reopened, with Domínguez saying the “large‑scale operation” had the cooperation of Iran, Oman, the United States, other coastal states and the maritime industry.
Domínguez clarified on Thursday that the attacked vessel “did not transit under IMO’s evacuation framework.”
“The safety of seafarers remains paramount,” he said. “To ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.”
Ship‑tracking site MarineTraffic reported that the Ever Lovely entered the strait via the southern route on Thursday morning and exited on the east side at about 15:30 local time (16:30 BST).
Vanguard also indicated that no assistance was required.
Last week the United States and Iran agreed to end hostilities under a 14‑point deal, which includes Iran’s commitment to ensure safe passage of commercial vessels for 60 days without charge.
Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will levy “maritime service fees” for transiting the strait, distinguishing them from tolls.
The United States strongly opposes any fees, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that no nation may impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as “an international waterway.”
Rubio is currently in Bahrain as part of a Gulf tour to discuss the agreement with Tehran.
After Iran began attacks at the end of February, it effectively closed the strait—a crucial conduit for oil, gas and other commodities—causing a surge in global oil prices and disrupting fertilizer shipments.
Crude prices have fallen sharply since the United States and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 17 June, which set a 60‑day window for negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme and other measures to end the conflict.
Earlier on Thursday, oil briefly dipped below $72.48 (£55) per barrel—the level recorded the day before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran—before rising to $73.23.