A report was filed that a cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz near the coast of Oman was attacked. Actual damage was reported just after Iran warned it would respond to ships that do not use routes it designated, heightening tensions again in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil transport.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on the 25th (local time) that it received a report that a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck on the starboard side by a projectile at sea 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman's Dahit Port. Some of the bridge was damaged, but there were no casualties or marine pollution, and relevant authorities are investigating the circumstances, UKMTO said.
U.S. media pointed to Iran as being behind the attack. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing senior U.S. administration officials, reported that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the ship using a one-way suicide drone. Reuters also cited multiple U.S. officials as saying the attack was the result of Iranian fire.
According to maritime security firm Vanguard and the shipping industry, the ship that was hit is the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely. However, the owner, Taiwan's Evergreen, did not issue an official position in response to related inquiries.
According to the WSJ, the Ever Lovely loaded cargo in Iraq, stayed in the Persian Gulf for a time, and then attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Three other merchant ships were following at the time, but Iran reportedly carried out the attack without separate warning.
The strike draws attention because it occurred right after Iran said it would tighten controls on transits through the strait. The IRGC said in a statement that "only vessels using routes designated by Iran can transit safely," warning it would respond to ships that do not comply.
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), established by the Iranian government to manage transits in the Strait of Hormuz, also said on X (formerly Twitter) that "ships that deviate from the designated route cannot be guaranteed safety and may be excluded from insurance coverage and liability for compensation." It added, "All consequences arising from the use of unapproved routes are the responsibility of the shipowner, the ship operator, and the captain."
Following the ship strike, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said it would provisionally suspend, after just one day, its plan announced on the 24th to withdraw ships and seafarers from the Strait of Hormuz. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said, "Several ships successfully exited the strait under the withdrawal framework, but we are temporarily pausing implementation to confirm that the necessary safety assurances continue to be maintained."