The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has paused the evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz after the British military reported that a vessel was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman. The decision came after several tankers used a UN-backed route to exit the Persian Gulf.
Arsenio Dominguez, the IMO's secretary general, announced on Thursday that the plan to move stranded ships through the strait would be on hold until safety guarantees could be confirmed for vessels on the evacuation list and in the region. The attacked vessel was not part of the evacuation effort, Dominguez clarified.
Attack Details and Iran's Warning
It remains unclear who launched the projectile or the type of vessel targeted. The attack occurred hours after Iran threatened vessels against using the route without Tehran's permission. Following the incident, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a new government agency established to control shipping, stated on X that transit outside its designated routes "will not be covered by the guarantee of safe passage."
The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre confirmed the vessel sustained damage but reported no injuries or environmental effects off the coast of Oman.
Impact on Global Economy and Peace Talks
The opening of an alternative passage through the vital waterway would relieve pressure on the world economy and reduce Iran's leverage in ongoing peace talks with the United States. 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," Rubio said on Thursday before the attack report.
Traffic through the strait increased in recent days but remained below pre-war levels. Oil briefly dipped below $73 per barrel on Thursday, indicating market optimism. South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung said on Friday that three more South Korean-operated vessels were expected to leave the strait this weekend, after eight such vessels had exited and five remained.
US-Iran Negotiations and Regional Tensions
The US and Iran continue debating an interim peace deal, including shipping through the Persian Gulf and Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. Under a memorandum signed last week, both sides have 60 days to finalize details. Meanwhile, a flare-up in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah threatened the wider truce, with Lebanon reporting five killed by Israeli strikes over two days. Iran said the tentative deal requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, a condition Israel has rejected.
New Route and Iranian Opposition
Oil tankers, including the Stoic Warrior, sailed along the UAE and Oman early Thursday, passing near Oman's Musandam peninsula. The route was established by Oman and the IMO. North of it is a corridor that carried about a fifth of the world's oil and gas before the war. Iran claimed it mined that passage after the US and Israel attacked on 28 February, with at least one mine sighted.
Some ships had exited with US military support. Shipping company Maersk reported its container ship, Maersk Baltimore, and another chartered vessel made it out on Thursday. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, 125 vessels crossed the strait last week, up from 33 the previous week. S&P Global recorded 78 transits on Wednesday, the most since the war began, but below the daily pre-war average of 130.
IRGC Warning and Regional Diplomacy
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning on Thursday against using the new route, calling it "unacceptable and completely dangerous." The only authorized route is the one declared by Iran, and traffic outside is "extremely dangerous and prohibited." On Wednesday, the IRGC threatened one tanker, with a soldier warning: "You are in range of my missiles and maybe (I) fire on you," according to security firm Ambrey.
Rubio met foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council to assure them their interests would be protected. Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani said the agreement brought hope but stressed that Iran must adhere to its obligations.
