The International Maritime Organization on Thursday paused an effort to evacuate ships stuck in the Persian Gulf after a vessel was attacked crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
The new attack threatens the fragile ceasefire signed by Iran and the U.S. last week, which requires Iran to restore normal shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz. Ship traffic through the waterway has steadily increased since the agreement was signed, though it remains well below pre-war levels.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement that he had paused the evacuation effort after the attack on the vessel, which was not transiting under the United Nations-chartered organization’s framework.
“I have decided to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region,” Dominguez said.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said Thursday it had received a report from a vessel traveling close to the Omani coast that it was struck by an “unknown projectile.” The attack caused damage to the bridge, but there were no casualties.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran was behind the attack. Tehran had warned earlier Thursday that ships must use its designated corridors through the strait, rather than the more southerly route backed by the U.S.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the attack or IMO’s decision to suspend the evacuation. The U.S. benchmark crude price, which has been steadily falling since the agreement, jumped more than 2 percent Thursday afternoon.
Nearly 50 vessels transited the waterway Wednesday, the highest single day since the conflict began, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward. It reported, however, that at least five vessels traversing the southern corridor had turned back as of Thursday morning after Iran issued the new threat.
Dominguez had announced the IMO campaign Tuesday, aiming to end “months of hardship and distress” for more than 11,000 seafarers who have been stuck in the strait since the war began. It said the effort was backed by the U.S., Iran, Oman and other Gulf countries.