The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily paused its evacuation plan for ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz following the attack on a Singapore-flagged container ship, according to Al Jazeera and Al-Monitor. The vessel. Named the Ever Lovely. Was struck hours after Iran warned ships not to use the strait without permission.

Attack on Singapore-flagged ship disrupts evacuation

The attack occurred 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman, where the ship was hit on its starboard side by a projectile of unknown origin, according to the UK Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO). No injuries were reported. But the bridge sustained damage. While the IMO said the ship was not operating under its evacuation framework when the attack occurred.

“We had secured the necessary safety guarantees and verified conditions for safe navigation before the plan began,” the organization said. However, the latest suspension came after they were informed of the attack. The IMO’s secretary-general, Arsenio Domínguez, described the pause as temporary and said it would allow the agency to reconfirm that safety guarantees remain in place for vessels requesting evacuation.

Iran tightens control over the strait

Iran’s Islamic Major Guard Corps (IRGC) ordered two Panama-flagged ships to change course earlier on Thursday, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), which Iran established to manage the Strait of Hormuz, has warned that transit outside its designated routes “will not be covered by the guarantee of safe passage.”

“Consequences arising from passage through unauthorized routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander,” the PGSA added on X. The PGSA has been issuing updates since Iran effectively closed the strait in March with missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels.

Maritime traffic remains at reduced levels

MarineTraffic confirmed 70 verified crossings on Wednesday and 31 on Tuesday, indicating that operators are still moving cautiously and not yet returning to pre-war levels of around 120 vessels per day. The IMO’s evacuation effort comes as part of a broader context: last week, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to work toward ending the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28.

With the strait now under strict Iranian control and uncertainty over the source of the projectile that struck the Ever Lovely, the IMO’s pause highlights the ongoing volatility in the region. The suspension is not expected to be permanent, but it reflects the agency’s cautious approach in ensuring the safety of vessels seeking to deal with through one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.