DUBAI / SINGAPORE June 26, 2026 — The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily halted its ship evacuation and escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz following a drone attack on a Singapore-flagged container vessel, raising fresh doubts about the stability of a preliminary U.S.-Iran deal aimed at reopening the critical waterway.
The Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely was struck by a projectile — identified by U.S. officials as an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) drone — while exiting the strait near the Omani coast on June 25. The vessel sustained damage to its bridge but reported no casualties or environmental impact and continued its transit.
UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the incident occurred about 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit. The ship had been stranded in the region for over 100 days amid earlier conflict and was not part of the IMO’s formal evacuation framework.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated: “This vessel did not transit under IMO’s evacuation framework. I have decided to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place.” The pause affects efforts to safely extract hundreds of vessels and more than 11,000 stranded seafarers trapped since the earlier closure of the strait.
The attack follows Iran’s warnings that vessels must use only Tehran-approved routes. The IRGC Navy had declared alternative paths “unacceptable and completely dangerous,” and Iranian authorities turned back several ships attempting southern routes suggested under the UN-backed plan.
The incident tests a preliminary agreement reached last week between the U.S. and Iran to end recent hostilities and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil trade. The deal had allowed limited resumption of traffic and the launch of the IMO evacuation initiative.
Tensions escalated earlier in 2026 with direct U.S.-Iran exchanges, including strikes and blockades that stranded thousands of mariners and vessels. The preliminary truce aimed to de-escalate and reopen the route, but disputes over tolls, approved passages, and security guarantees persist.
The Ever Lovely, operated by Evergreen Marine Asia, had loaded cargo in Iraq’s Umm Qasr before attempting the crossing alongside other vessels. It used a southern route near Oman.
Analysts warn that renewed disruptions could spike global energy prices and shipping costs. No immediate broader closure has been announced, but operators are exercising caution amid the IMO pause.
Iran has not issued an official comment on the specific strike, while the U.S. maintains forces in the region remain “vigilant.”
This marks the latest flashpoint in the ongoing challenges to safe navigation in one of the world’s most vital maritime arteries. Further updates are expected as the IMO seeks clarity on safety assurances and Iran’s route enforcement.
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