UN Pauses Hormuz Evacuation as Iran Drone Hits Ship Near Oman

The U.N.'s International Maritime Organization paused its operation to evacuate stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

This came after Taiwan's Evergreen Marine reported its vessel was struck by a drone near the coast of Oman, an attack two U.S. officials told was carried out by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

The Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely was hit on its starboard side while traveling on a route recommended by the British navy agency UKMTO.

Initial inspections showed damage to the bridge windows.

"The crew, vessel, and cargo are all safe," Evergreen said in a statement. "The vessel has safely departed the Strait of Hormuz."

A security source said the vessel was probably targeted by a drone.

Hours After Warning

The attack came hours after Iran warned ships against using any route through the strait without Tehran's approval.

Iran's newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority followed the strike with a statement on X: "Consequences arising from passage through unauthorized routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander."

IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said the agency decided "to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place."

He noted the Ever Lovely was not part of the evacuation initiative. The initiative is a voluntary program launched on Tuesday, offering two routes out of the Gulf, one through Iranian waters and one through Omani waters, with U.S. oversight.

A Route Iran Says is Illegal

Iran's Revolutionary Guard had issued a warning Thursday declaring the U.N.-backed route "unacceptable and completely dangerous," saying it was established without coordination with Tehran.

"The only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Guard said.

"Vessel traffic outside these routes is extremely dangerous and prohibited. Violators will be dealt with."

What Was Working Before the Strike

Despite the attack, signs of partial progress had emerged before Thursday's incident.

Last week, 125 vessels crossed the strait, up from just 33 the week before, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence.

Wednesday saw 78 transits, which is the most since the war began, though still well below the pre-war daily average of 130 or more.