Vessel Attack Forces Suspension of Ship Evacuation in the Strait of Hormuz
DUBAI — A United Nations agency paused the evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman, dealing a fresh blow to efforts to restore normal traffic through the strategic waterway.
The attack came hours after Iran threatened vessels against using a newly established route through the strait that bypasses Tehran’s control. The vessel that was struck was not part of the UN‑led evacuation effort, said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary‑general of the International Maritime Organization.
The UN agency said it would hold off on moving stranded ships until it can confirm safety guarantees for vessels on the evacuation list and in the region.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that the vessel sustained damage, but no injuries or environmental harm were reported. It was unclear who launched the projectile or what type of vessel was targeted.
Iran’s newly established Arabian Gulf Strait Authority warned on X that transit outside its designated routes “will not be covered by the guarantee of safe passage.” The naval arm of the Revolutionary Guard separately called the new route “unacceptable and completely dangerous,” stating that “the only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Despite the tensions, traffic through the strait has increased in recent days, though it remains well below pre‑war levels. On Wednesday, 78 vessels transited the waterway — the highest since the war began in February, but still below the daily average of 130 or more.
The new route, laid out by Oman and the IMO, runs along the UAE and Omani coasts, passing close to Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. North of this corridor lies the traditional passage through the center of the strait, which Iran has mined and declared closed since the US‑Israeli attacks on February 28.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting the Gulf to reassure allies, said Washington is committed to the new route. “If that stops, then we’re going to have a problem,” he said.
The attack came as the US and Iran continue debating the terms of an interim peace deal, including shipping access and the future of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Under the memorandum signed last week, both sides have 60 days to iron out details. Meanwhile, oil briefly dipped below its last pre‑war price, signaling that markets remain cautiously optimistic.
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