The United Nations specialized agency, the International Maritime Organization, said on Thursday it had suspended evacuation operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz following attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman.
A U.S. official told CNN that the ship had been hit by an Iranian drone attack, but did not provide further details. Iran has not claimed responsibility.
The suspension comes days after the IMO announced a deal between the United States and Iran paved the way for the evacuation of more than 11,000 stranded seafarers from the Persian Gulf region.
“Following the launch of IMO’s evacuation plan, which has already resulted in the successful evacuation of several ships, we have decided to suspend its implementation in order to reaffirm that the necessary security continues to be ensured for ships on the evacuation list and for all ships in the region,” IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.
He said he was informed on Thursday that a ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz had been attacked in the Gulf of Oman, adding that the ship was not operating under the IMO evacuation framework.
“I have always reiterated that the safety of our seafarers is our top priority,” Dominguez said. “Therefore, to ensure a coordinated approach and safety of navigation, evacuation plans are suspended until further clarity is obtained.”
Noting that Thursday is Seafarers’ Day, Dominguez said the day highlights the need to ensure that efforts to evacuate “thousands of seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf” can continue without putting them at risk of becoming “collateral victims of this geopolitical conflict.”
Iran’s Persian Gulf Sea Route Authority said on Thursday that ships sailing outside the designated shipping lanes would not be guaranteed safe passage, nor would they be covered by insurance or related liability. “The consequences of navigating an unauthorized route are the responsibility of the vessel owner, operator and master,” the post on X added.
Britain’s Maritime Trade Services Agency said Thursday that an unknown projectile struck the starboard side of the cargo ship, damaging the bridge. The captain reported no casualties and no environmental impact, the notice said. Authorities are investigating and vessels are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.
The incident comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a trip to the Gulf region to sell the deal with Iran to three countries seen as the most skeptical.
Last week, the United States released the official text of the Memorandum of Understanding reached with Iran over the weekend.
A senior U.S. official read a 14-point document, detailing provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing certain financial restrictions on Iran, and expressing hopes for future technical talks to address Iran’s nuclear program.
U.S. oil prices have fallen to their lowest level since the start of the Iran war, after surging after fighting closed the Strait of Hormuz.
