UN Halts Evacuations of Sailors in Strait of Hormuz Following Reported Attack

The United Nations has paused efforts to evacuate over 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran raised objections and a cargo ship was reportedly struck near Oman. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced the evacuation plan on Tuesday. IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez stated that he was informed of an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of seafarers and decided to pause the evacuation plan until further clarity is obtained regarding safety guarantees for the ships involved. Several vessels had already been evacuated under the IMO plan prior to this decision. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy criticized the announcement of a new transit route through Hormuz, calling it an unacceptable and dangerous plan. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center reported no immediate casualties from the vessel struck by an unknown projectile. At least two tankers have turned back after attempting to leave the Persian Gulf through the strait. The IMO estimates that around 600 ships are stranded in the region, with 14 sailors having died since the onset of the Iran war in February.