The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, has suspended its evacuation plan for ships and seafarers trapped in the Middle East Gulf following an attack on a container vessel near Oman. The incident occurred on Thursday when an Evergreen-owned Singapore-flagged ship was hit by an unidentified projectile. The attack prompted a reassessment of safety assurances for ships operating in the region, with the IMO pausing evacuations to ensure necessary protections remain intact.

This attack came amid a fragile interim peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, which was intended to halt hostilities for 60 days and facilitate the resumption of maritime traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The evacuation plan, initiated earlier in the week, sought to help hundreds of stranded vessels navigate safely out of the Gulf using approved northern or southern routes. However, Iran’s military has since warned ships against using the southern passage near Oman, asserting that unauthorized transit routes through the strait are unacceptable and potentially dangerous.

Despite some recovery in shipping activity with 125 vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the week following the ceasefire, traffic remains significantly below pre-war levels. Tensions persist as Tehran seeks to maintain firm control over the vital energy corridor, creating uncertainty for maritime operators. Reports indicated at least two vessels reversed course after Iran rejected the southern route supported by the IMO, underscoring the challenges of navigating the conflict-affected waters.

U.S. officials have acknowledged the attack and continue to investigate while maintaining that Iran should not disrupt free navigation in the strait. The Evergreen ship involved in the attack was not part of the IMO’s evacuation scheme. The situation highlights ongoing risks for commercial shipping in the region and poses setbacks for efforts to establish secure maritime corridors amid delicate peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran.