Ship strike halts UN Hormuz evacuation plan

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on 25 June 2026 temporarily paused its evacuation initiative to move stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz after a vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. The operation had been structured as a coordinated effort to provide safer passage for hundreds of ships that had been unable to leave the Gulf.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the affected vessel had not transited under the organization’s evacuation framework. Nonetheless, he decided to halt implementation of the plan while the agency reconfirms safety guarantees for ships already on its evacuation list and for others sailing in the region.

UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a cargo ship was hit by an unknown projectile southeast of Dahit, Oman, about 7.5 nautical miles from the coast. The projectile struck the side of the vessel and damaged its bridge.

The master of the ship reported no casualties among those on board and no environmental impact from the incident. It remained unclear who launched the projectile or what type of ordnance was used.

The paused IMO initiative was built around two temporary sea lanes intended to ease the exit of trapped vessels from the Gulf. One was a northern route running close to Iranian territorial waters, while the other followed a southern course through Omani waters.

These corridors were designed to give ships a structured, internationally coordinated way to leave the congested and high-risk area. The attack and subsequent pause have interrupted that effort and left many ships awaiting further guidance.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval arm publicly rejected the U.N.-backed corridor arrangement involving Oman. It stated that the plan lacked Iran’s agreement and asserted that only sea routes declared by Iran are authorised.

The Revolutionary Guard warned that vessels not using Iranian-designated channels "will be dealt with accordingly." This stance has added to uncertainty over which routes can be used safely by commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Following the reported projectile strike, several vessels attempting to exit via the Omani route either turned back or appeared to execute U-turns. These movements indicated immediate caution among crews navigating the southern lane.

Shipowners and operators have responded with heightened risk assessments and increased caution over transits in the region. With the IMO plan paused and Iran contesting the U.N.-backed corridors, the timeline for a coordinated and secure evacuation of stranded ships remains unclear.