Strait of Hormuz incident: cargo vessel attack and IMO evacuation pause

On June 25, 2026, a Singapore-flagged container ship, the Ever Lovely, was struck by an unknown projectile 14 kilometers southeast of Oman's port of Dahit, causing damage to its bridge but no casualties. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the incident, and a maritime security source suggested a drone attack, though no group claimed responsibility. In response, the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) paused its recently launched evacuation plan for approximately 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The IMO had begun evacuating ships through two routes—one controlled by Iran and another by Oman and the US—but Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez suspended the plan to reassess safety guarantees. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned vessels to use only Tehran-approved routes, and the Persian Gulf Strait Authority stated that unauthorized transit would not be guaranteed safe passage. The attack also affected global oil markets, with prices jumping amid renewed concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for oil shipments. Meanwhile, Dutch ships transited the strait for the first time since the conflict began, and diplomatic efforts continued, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaling further talks with Iran in Switzerland.