Following an attack on a vessel, the United Nations' global shipping regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has announced it will suspend its evacuation operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
"I have been informed that a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was attacked today in the Gulf of Oman," stated IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in a declaration. "This vessel was not operating under the IMO evacuation framework. I have consistently reiterated that seafarer safety remains the paramount priority. Consequently, to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained."
Reports citing two senior U.S. officials indicate that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
The reports also cite the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, stating the attack caused damage to the ship's bridge but resulted in no casualties, with the incident occurring near the coast of Oman. Hours prior, the naval branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had issued warnings to vessels against using routes not approved by the regime.
Since the provisional peace agreement between the United States and Iran took effect last week, vessels have been rushing to depart the Strait of Hormuz, rapidly adding significant new oil supplies to the market. As transit volumes through the Strait of Hormuz appear to remain stable, Gulf energy producers have begun increasing their output.