Iran Strikes Cargo Vessel in Strait of Hormuz, Pausing IMO Escort Operations

Iran struck a cargo vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, damaging its bridge with an unknown projectile and prompting the IMO to pause escort operations for hundreds of ships. The vessel, identified as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely and owned by Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine, had been stuck in the gulf for more than 100 days after loading cargo in Iraq.

It followed the route along the Omani coast recommended by the United Nations' International Maritime Organization when the strike occurred 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization reported the strike. No casualties occurred aboard the vessel. A U.S. official told the New York Times that the ship was hit by a drone. Iran had warned ships earlier Thursday that they must coordinate with its navy and travel only through a designated route in Iranian waters.

The Iranian navy stated that the southern route along the Omani coast was unacceptable and extremely dangerous. The Persian Gulf Seaways Management Organization, created recently by Tehran, warned that consequences of traveling on unauthorized routes would be the responsibility of the vessel's owner, operator, and commander.

The IMO halted its escort operations after the attack. More than 11,000 seafarers remain stuck in the region. The agency had begun the mission on Tuesday after securing safety guarantees and working with Iran. Around 70 vessels, including 29 tankers, transited the Strait on Wednesday, the busiest day since March 1.

The IMO Secretary-General said the attacked ship was not part of the agency's evacuation plan. Brent crude rose more than two percent to around $75.50 a barrel on Thursday before falling around two percent to $74.03 on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate followed a similar pattern, rising Thursday before dropping more than two percent to $70.38 on Friday.

The strike followed last week's memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran that reopened the Strait toll-free for 60 days. The MOU calls for Iran to conduct dialogue with Oman to define future administration of the waterway. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Gulf Arab leaders in Bahrain on Thursday to address concerns over the MOU's language on Strait management.