IMO Halts 11,000-Sailor Hormuz Evacuation After 1 Ship Is Hit, Trump Blames Iran
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 26
IMO Halts 11,000-Sailor Hormuz Evacuation After 1 Ship Is Hit, Trump Blames Iran
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 26
Summary
11,000 stranded sailors lost their planned evacuation route after the IMO paused operations in the Strait of Hormuz following a projectile strike on the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely.
Trump said Iran fired at least four drones at passing ships, with one hitting the vessel’s upper deck while the US shot down three; Evergreen reported limited damage and no injuries.
7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit, the ship had been following a southern route identified by the IMO, after the IRGC warned that using that corridor without coordinating with Iran was “unacceptable and completely dangerous.”
115 vessels carrying about 2,500 seafarers had already crossed before the pause, and IMO chief Arsenio Dominguez said he is seeking guarantees from the US, Iran and Oman before restarting evacuations.
The disruption tests a ceasefire that reopened the strait earlier this month after Iran had effectively shut the waterway, jolting oil prices and trade, despite a 14-point deal calling for safe commercial passage for 60 days.
With Iran's new leader in hiding, who is behind the drone strike threatening the fragile U.S. peace deal?
As Washington and Tehran clash over nuclear inspections, is their landmark peace agreement already on the verge of collapse?
June 25, 2026 Drone Strike on Ever Lovely: Renewed Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Global Economic Fallout
Overview
On June 25, 2026, a drone attack struck the Singapore-flagged vessel Ever Lovely as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz, quickly drawing international attention. The incident was first reported by major news outlets and confirmed by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, which noted the ship was not under its evacuation framework. In response, Iran’s new maritime authorities reiterated strict transit rules, warning that unauthorized routes would not guarantee safe passage. This event highlights rising tensions over control of the vital waterway and underscores the fragile state of regional security and global shipping.