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A commercial vessel sailing under the Singapore flag was struck Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz in an attack the United States attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, escalating tensions in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways and posing an early challenge to President Donald Trump’s recently negotiated agreement with Tehran aimed at restoring commercial shipping.
A U.S. official confirmed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards carried out the attack, which damaged the vessel’s bridge after it was hit on its starboard side by what British maritime authorities described as an “unknown projectile.”
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident occurred off the coast of Dahit, Oman. No injuries or environmental damage were reported.
International Shipping Plan Paused
The attack prompted the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) to suspend a newly launched evacuation program designed to help hundreds of commercial vessels and thousands of mariners leave the Persian Gulf safely.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the organization paused the operation to reassess security conditions.
“I have always reiterated that the safety of the seafarers remains paramount,” Dominguez said in a statement. “To ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.”
The IMO noted the damaged vessel had already passed through the Strait of Hormuz when it was struck and was not traveling under the organization’s evacuation framework.
Agreement Faces Early Test
The incident comes just days after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding intended to restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following months of conflict that severely disrupted global shipping.
Under the temporary 60-day agreement, Iran pledged to use its “best efforts” to facilitate toll-free safe passage for commercial vessels while negotiations toward a broader agreement continue.
The accord quickly boosted maritime traffic. According to shipping analytics firm Kpler, approximately 70 vessels transited the strait Tuesday, compared with only six one week earlier. The increase helped ease concerns over global energy supplies and contributed to falling oil prices.
However, Thursday’s attack threatens to undermine confidence in the arrangement.
Dispute Over Shipping Routes Persists
Despite the memorandum, disagreements remain over how vessels should navigate the narrow waterway.
The United States has supported a shipping route that hugs Omani territorial waters, while Iran has insisted commercial vessels obtain Iranian permission before transiting and use routes closer to its own coastline.
On Thursday, Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority reiterated that position.
“Any passage through routes outside the framework designated by PGSA will not be covered by safe passage guarantees and will not be entitled to insurance coverage or related liabilities,” the authority said.
Iran has also suggested it could impose transit fees after the current 60-day agreement expires, a proposal the United States and regional allies have rejected as inconsistent with international maritime law.
Oman, which has played a key mediation role, has said it supports joint management of the waterway with Iran but has no intention of charging commercial tolls.
Rubio Warns Iran Will Be Judged by Its Actions
Speaking Thursday during a visit to Bahrain, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration remains focused on whether commercial traffic continues moving safely rather than on Iranian rhetoric.
“If ships are moving as they should be moving, then that’s what we’re going to judge,” Rubio told reporters.
“If, on the other hand, this rhetoric is backed up by actual ships being threatened and ships are not moving, that’s a violation of the agreement, and we’re going to have a problem with it,” he added.
Global Significance
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments under normal conditions.
The months-long disruption caused by regional fighting significantly reduced commercial traffic and fueled concerns over energy markets before the recent U.S.-Iran agreement temporarily restored confidence.
Thursday’s attack introduces fresh uncertainty about whether that fragile arrangement can hold as negotiations continue.
What Comes Next
International maritime authorities are expected to reassess security conditions before resuming evacuation operations, while U.S. officials continue monitoring whether Iran complies with the commitments outlined in the memorandum of understanding.
The incident is likely to become an early test of the broader diplomatic effort to stabilize shipping in the Persian Gulf and prevent renewed disruptions to one of the world’s most critical trade routes.
