A missile strike on a Singapore-flagged container ship near the coast of Oman has disrupted the fragile return of normal shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. While vessels continue to transit in both directions on Friday, the clash between U.S. and Iranian interests over free navigation through this critical maritime artery is raising the risk of chaos that could spread far beyond the Persian Gulf.
The attack on the container vessel Ever Lovely on Thursday was the first such incident since the US and Iran signed a temporary peace agreement. The ship was hit on its starboard side by a projectile of unknown origin, damaging the bridge but causing no casualties or environmental damage, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) promptly announced that all ships must use only the shipping lanes designated by Iran, warning that vessels using alternative routes declared by other authorities would face action. The warning came just days after a U.S.-organized evacuation operation was launched to allow ships to exit the Persian Gulf via two designated corridors — one Iranian, one jointly managed by Oman and the United States.
Armators pull back as tensions spike
According to Bloomberg sources, Thursday’s strike on Ever Lovely prompted some shipowners and captains to withdraw from passage through the strait. At least one Asia-based company canceled its earlier plans to send vessels out of the Gulf, telling crews to remain in port while management reassesses transit options.
Still, the attack has not fully halted the slow return to normality. Data from Vortex shows that the average number of tanker crossings per day had risen to over 20 after the interim deal, compared to just six daily during most of the Iran war. On Friday morning, an Aframax tanker heading to India, a small sanctions-hit tanker, a fully loaded VLCC from the UAE, and several other vessels were spotted moving through the strait or approaching it.
A dangerous precedent for global shipping
The core dispute centers on whether Iran can charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Gulf states, declared that if Tehran imposes such tolls, it would set a precedent for other choke points worldwide. „Then chaos awaits us,” he warned.
Washington is pressuring Oman not to join Iran in a joint fee-collection system. While the sultanate initially issued a joint statement with Tehran about discussing traffic management and costs, Rubio later said Oman had assured the U.S. that it does not support any fees. The joint U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council statement explicitly rejects „any fees and attempts to take control of the Strait.”
The fragile peace and the conflicting signals from regional players mean that the situation remains highly volatile. Any escalation could disrupt oil and gas shipments that pass through the strait — about 20% of the world’s supply — and trigger a global energy crisis.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/Farzad Abdollahi
