The United Nations has suspended its evacuation plan for more than 11,000 stranded sailors in the Strait of Hormuz after a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel was reportedly attacked by Iran while transiting the strategic waterway.
The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) said the evacuation operation would remain on hold until there was greater clarity over navigational safety. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the safety of seafarers remained the agency's highest priority and that the operation would resume only after adequate security assurances were in place.
The decision followed an incident on Thursday in which the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely was struck by what the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) described as an "unknown projectile" about 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman's port of Dahit. There were no casualties, and the vessel continued its voyage without requiring assistance.
According to US officials cited by American media, Iranian forces fired at the vessel. Maritime security firm Vanguard also reported that the ship continued through the Strait of Hormuz despite the attack.
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) later warned that ships sailing outside designated transit routes would not be guaranteed safe passage, saying any consequences would be the responsibility of vessel owners and operators.
The IMO clarified that Ever Lovely was not part of the UN-coordinated evacuation programme.
The evacuation effort, announced only this week, was intended to assist more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Gulf since February, when fighting involving the US, Israel and Iran severely disrupted commercial shipping. The operation had been coordinated with Iran, Oman, the US and other regional stakeholders following the reopening of the strait.
The latest attack raises fresh concerns over the security of one of the world's most important maritime trade routes, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.
Although the US and Iran recently agreed to end hostilities under a 14-point agreement that included commitments to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels for 60 days, tensions remain. Tehran has indicated it plans to levy maritime service fees for vessels crossing the strait, a move strongly opposed by Washington, which insists the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway.
The disruption in the Gulf has had a major impact on global energy markets. Iran's effective closure of the strait earlier this year sent oil prices sharply higher and disrupted shipments of crude, liquefied natural gas and other key commodities.
Oil prices have eased since the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 17 to begin negotiations on Tehran's nuclear programme and broader de-escalation measures. Brent crude briefly fell below $72.50 a barrel on Thursday before recovering to around $73.20.