Key facts
- Iran fired on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials.
- A Singapore-flagged cargo ship, the Ever Lovely, was hit by an unknown projectile and subsequently fired upon.
- The incident occurred approximately 3.6 nautical miles off Oman's Khawr Naiwah.
- The vessel sustained damage to its bridge but reported no casualties or environmental impact.
- Iran had previously rejected a United Nations-backed plan for ship evacuation in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Persian Gulf Strait Authority announced that ships using unauthorized routes will lose safe passage guarantees.
Iran has rejected a United Nations-backed plan aimed at freeing ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. This rejection comes after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, the Ever Lovely, reported being struck by a projectile and subsequently fired upon while attempting to navigate the strategic waterway. U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran fired on the vessel.
The vessel, owned by Evergreen Marine's Singapore subsidiary, sustained damage to its bridge windows after being hit by an unknown object approximately 3.6 nautical miles off Oman's Khawr Naiwah. The crew, vessel, and cargo are safe, and the ship has safely departed the Strait of Hormuz, following the recommended route of the British navy agency UKMTO. Earlier, a Liberian oil tanker had transited the Strait of Hormuz using a new route amidst threats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Prior to that incident, another cargo ship, also on a UN-backed route, was hit by a projectile, damaging its bridge.
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) has announced that vessels traveling through unauthorized routes will lose safe passage and insurance guarantees. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint, with about 20% of global oil consumption passing through it, making it a significant area for geopolitical tensions.