Iran Strikes Cargo Ship Off Oman, UN Pauses Strait of Hormuz Evacuation Plan

A cargo ship was hit by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, prompting the UN International Maritime Organization to pause its evacuation plan for stranded ships and seafarers.

“Cargo vessel hit by unknown projectile off Oman, UK maritime agency says A cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman on Thursday, causing damage to its bridge but resulting in no casualties, according to a warning issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)”

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BBC reported that UKMTO said the ship was struck “7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman's port of Dahit” and that no casualties were reported.

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In a statement, IMO secretary general Arsenio Dominguez said the evacuation plan would be paused to ensure “necessary safety guarantees” remained in place for ships on the evacuation list and in the region.

CBC also reported that the vessel involved “did not transit under IMO's evacuation framework,” even as the ship continued through the strait despite the attack.

Multiple outlets tied the attack to Iran’s insistence on controlling passage routes, with the Persian Gulf Strait Authority saying vessels outside designated routes would not be guaranteed safe passage.

CBC reported that the body set up by Iran to manage the strait said: "Any consequences arising from the use of unauthorised routes shall be the responsibility of the vessel's owner, operator and master".

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NBC News said Iran warned that any ship not following its own approved route would be “dealt with accordingly,” and it described the Revolutionary Guard Navy as condemning the IMO route.

The Washington Post framed the attack as occurring as Iran attacked a cargo ship Thursday while it tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz along a new route promoted by a United Nations maritime agency.

The incident landed during a fragile reopening effort after an interim US-Iran framework, with the IMO evacuation initiative launched on Tuesday and then paused after the attack.

“Oil prices edged up about two per cent on Thursday after a cargo vessel was hit by an unknown projectile near Oman, sparking worries about how long it could take for oil flows in the Middle East to return to levels seen before the US-Israeli war on Iran”

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BBC said the UN evacuation effort was announced on Tuesday following the reopening of the strait, and it reported that Dominguez described the operation as a “large-scale operation” with cooperation from Iran, Oman, the US, other coastal states, and the maritime industry.

NBC News reported that the initial 60-day agreement brought “significant relief” to energy markets and thousands of sailors stranded in the Persian Gulf, but left unresolved questions including how traffic would be managed and how mines purportedly laid by Iran would be cleared.

In the same context, the Washington Post said the attack “dashed hopes” that shipping traffic might have found “a narrow passage” through the ongoing blockade, even as the new route was promoted by a United Nations maritime agency.