The U.N. International Maritime Organization paused its operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel reported an attack, reigniting concerns about whether a preliminary deal to end the Iran war will hold, Reuters reports.
Taiwan's Evergreen Marine (2603.TW), opens new tab said on Friday its ship was hit close to Oman by an "unknown object" while on a route recommended by the British navy agency UKMTO. The agency said earlier a vessel had been struck by a projectile hours after Tehran warned vessels against taking routes it had not approved.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran had fired on the ship, while Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which Tehran established to manage requests for ships to travel through the strait, said vessels outside routes it has set will not be guaranteed safe passage.
"Consequences arising from passage through unauthorized routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander," the Iranian authority said.
Evergreen said its Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely was hit on the starboard side and initial inspections showed damage to the bridge windows. "The crew, vessel and cargo are all safe," the company said in a stock exchange statement. "The vessel has safely departed the Strait of Hormuz." A security source said it was probably targeted by a drone.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. government. U.S. President Donald Trump warned earlier this month that if Iran did not honour an agreement aimed at ending the war and reopening the strait the U.S. would probably go back to bombing the country.
