Hormuz Escorts Halted: Is the Iran Peace Deal Collapsing?

On Thursday, the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) stopped its mission to guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz. This pronouncement came right after a cargo ship reported an attack, hovering solemn fears about whether a latest deal to end the war with Iran will truly stick.

The embattled ship, recognized as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, was hit by what was likely a drone near Oman. This happened just hours after Tehran warned ships not to use routes it hadn’t approved. While US officials stated that Iran fired on the ship, Iranian authorities argued that any vessel straying from their designated paths would not be guaranteed safe passage.

This attack hits a major global nerve. Before the war started in late February, a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas passed through this narrow waterway. Right after the news broke, global oil prices immediately jumped by 2%.

The conflict has left hundreds of ships and thousands of mariners stranded in the area for months. The IMO had just launched a rescue plan on Tuesday to help them leave safely using two specific routes. Although the attacked ship wasn’t part of this official rescue program, the IMO paused its operations to make sure the waters are still safe.

The incident highlights a tense standoff over who controls the strait. US President Donald Trump previously warned that the US would resume bombing Iran if it broke the peace agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also made it clear that blocking ships would cause major problems. However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have doubled down, forcing two other ships to change course on Thursday and insisting that safe passage is only possible on their terms.