IMO pauses its Gulf vessel evacuation plan after Iran attacks ship
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the agency has paused its involvement in the evacuation of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf following
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the agency has paused its involvement in the evacuation of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf following an Iranian attack on a commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz through the southern Oman route. Dominguez said the vessel, Taiwan’s container ship Ever Lovely, was not transiting under the IMO-facilitated plan. He said he did not know whether the ship had been in touch with the U.S. Navy before the incident. No one was injured and the vessel resumed its voyage.
The attack followed a joint declaration by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Oman, after a meeting attended by the United States, stating that there should be no “tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control over the strait.” Iran has criticised the IMO plan, arguing that it does not adequately recognise Tehran’s role in managing traffic through the strategic waterway. Dominguez said the foreign ministers of Oman and Iran met on Monday (June 22, 2026), and the IMO plan was announced the following day based on those discussions.
A statement issued by Iran after that meeting said the “two countries had agreed to continue talks through a joint committee of their foreign ministries to reach an understanding on the future management of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the services to be provided, and the associated costs, in accordance with international standards.” Dominguez said some 115 vessels had transited the strait from the beginning of the week to the pause. Since the attack, four ships have used the northern route and 11 the southern route. He said shipowners should conduct their own risk assessments before transiting the strait now that IMO has paused its role.
The IMO remains in contact with Iran through its embassy in London, where the organisation is headquartered, he said. Dominguez said the IMO would resume its role once all stakeholder nations provide assurances on the safety of ships and seafarers. About 500 ships remain in the area, and evacuating them could take around five weeks, he added, noting that both Oman and Iran exercise jurisdiction over the Strait of Hormuz.
The BriefWire