South Korean media: Cargo ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz… Iran says "safety cannot be guaranteed if deviating from designated area"

¬ U.S. claims "Iran fired first," IMO says "suspend evacuation operation," international oil prices rise accordingly

On the 25th local time, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) reported receiving information that a cargo vessel passing near the Omani coast through the Strait of Hormuz was allegedly attacked by what is suspected to be a drone-launched projectile.

According to Reuters, the vessel reported being struck on its starboard side, 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Duqm Port in Oman.

The UKMTO added that although there was damage to the bridge, no casualties or environmental harm occurred, and relevant authorities are currently conducting an investigation.

Maritime security sources told Reuters that while it remains unclear who launched the attack, drones may have targeted this vessel. Reuters reported that U.S. officials stated the perpetrator was Iran.

Previously, on the same day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had warned that only vessels navigating within Iran-designated shipping lanes could ensure safe passage, and that measures would be taken against ships failing to comply.

The Persian Gulf Straits Administration (PGSA), established by the Iranian government to manage navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, also posted on X (formerly Twitter): "If navigation routes deviate from our designated areas, safe passage cannot be guaranteed, and such incidents fall outside insurance coverage and related liability. All consequences arising from using unapproved routes will be fully borne by the shipowner, operator, and captain."

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) stated that its plan to evacuate vessels and crew from the Strait of Hormuz, initially issued on the 24th, was temporarily suspended within one day due to the attack on the ship.

Previously, the IMO had announced it had begun an operation aimed at evacuating several hundred vessels and approximately 11,000 crew members from the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Oman would provide temporary transit routes.

However, IMO Secretary-General Assenio Dominguez said in a statement: "Under this plan, several vessels have successfully departed the strait. However, to reconfirm the continuous provision of necessary security safeguards, the decision has been made to temporarily suspend the operation."

Dominguez further said: "We have just learned that the cargo ship was hit near the Gulf of Oman, and it did not navigate according to the IMO evacuation framework. To ensure coordination and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until clarity is achieved."

Due to the incident involving the attacked vessel, international oil prices rose after five consecutive trading days of decline. On that day, the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) August-delivered Brent crude futures closed at $75.26 per barrel, up 2.06% from the previous trading session.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869032561300480/

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