The U.N. International Maritime Organization paused its escort operations for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel reported an attack, reviving concerns over the durability of a preliminary deal aimed at ending the Iran conflict.
Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine said Friday that one of its vessels was struck by an “unknown object” near Oman while following a route recommended by the British maritime security agency UKMTO.
The agency had earlier reported that a ship was hit by a projectile hours after Tehran warned vessels against using routes it has not approved.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran fired on the vessel, while Iran’s Strait of the Persian Gulf Authority, a body set up by Tehran to manage transit requests, said ships outside approved routes would not be guaranteed safe passage.
“Consequences arising from passage through unauthorized routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator and vessel commander,” it said.
