UN Halts Evacuation Of Stranded Ships In Strait Of Hormuz After Cargo Ship Attack
UN Halts Evacuation Of Stranded Ships In Strait Of Hormuz After Cargo Ship Attack Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 03:20 IST The IMO
UN Halts Evacuation Of Stranded Ships In Strait Of Hormuz After Cargo Ship Attack Published By, Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 03:20 IST The IMO paused its recently launched evacuation initiative which was designed to help hundreds of stranded ships leave the Gulf. Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 15, 2026. (Source: Reuters) The United Nations’ International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on Thursday temporarily suspended its operation to escort stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo vessel reported coming under attack near Oman. According to the British maritime security agency UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely reported being struck by a projectile while sailing near Oman. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran had fired on the vessel, while a security source said it was likely hit by a drone. The reported attack came hours after Iran warned ships against using transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz that had not been authorised by Tehran. Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels travelling outside designated routes would not be guaranteed safe passage.
Also Read: Iran Fired Projectile At Cargo Ship Passing Through Strait Of Hormuz: US Officials In response to the incident, the IMO paused its recently launched evacuation initiative, which was designed to help hundreds of stranded ships and thousands of seafarers leave the Gulf after being unable to transit the waterway for months. “I have decided to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region," IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement. The agency clarified that the vessel involved in the reported attack was not part of its evacuation programme. Launched earlier this week, the voluntary IMO initiative allowed ships to exit the Gulf through two designated routes, one via Iranian waters and the other through Omani waters, with U.S. oversight. The incident pushed benchmark oil prices nearly 2 per cent higher, renewing concerns over the pace at which oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz could return to normal.
Before the conflict, the strategic waterway handled about one-fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Ahead of the incident, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Gulf countries, warned that any attempt by Iran to threaten shipping through the strait would have consequences. “Then we’re going to have a problem," Rubio said. Iran, however, continued to signal that it would retain control over navigation through the strait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said safe passage would only be allowed through routes designated by Tehran and warned that action would be taken against vessels that failed to comply. British maritime security company Ambrey also reported that the Revolutionary Guards ordered two Panama-flagged ships to alter their course on Thursday. Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz were nearing pre-conflict levels, with at least 20 million barrels of oil passing through the waterway in the previous 24 hours. The developments come as negotiations under a 60-day framework agreement continue, with discussions expected to focus on issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, financial arrangements, inspections and the future of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
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