The International Maritime Organization (IMO) suspended its emergency evacuation plan for over 11,000 stranded seafarers after a Singapore-flagged vessel, Ever Lovely, was hit by an unidentified projectile near Oman. While no injuries were reported, the incident underscored unresolved disputes over navigation routes and Iran’s role in regulating passage.
The attack came days after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum to reopen the strategic waterway. Yet disagreements persist over whether Iran can impose transit fees and which routes ships should follow. Oman and the IMO proposed a new corridor bypassing Iranian-controlled waters, but Tehran rejected the plan, citing safety concerns and ongoing mine clearance operations.
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Iran neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the strike, but its Revolutionary Guard warned that safe passage is only possible through routes it designates. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi insisted that any framework must coordinate with Iran under the Islamabad memorandum. Iranian forces recently forced several tankers to turn back for lacking authorization.
The IMO’s Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized that seafarer safety remains paramount, halting evacuations until “security guarantees” are secured. The decision followed weeks of restricted movement, with over 11,000 sailors trapped since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in February. Multinational naval missions led by France, Britain, and Denmark have joined efforts to stabilize navigation.
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Commercial traffic has resumed gradually but remains below pre-war levels of 120–140 daily transits. Analytics firm Kpler reported 54 verified crossings on Thursday, down from 70 the day before. The attack added operational risks, highlighting the fragile balance between improving trade flows and persistent maritime insecurity.
Analysts note that control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical lever for Iran, enabling pressure on the U.S. and global markets. Whether the ceasefire memorandum can hold amid contested routes and ongoing attacks remains uncertain.