Maritime Evacuations Halted After Ship Attacked in Oman Gulf

The United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended the evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a cargo vessel in the Oman Gulf. According to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominges, the targeted ship was navigating the strait independently, outside of the evacuation scheme. The IMO had initiated a plan to evacuate over 11,000 seafarers from the Persian Gulf earlier this week, with several ships successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and Thursday as part of the plan. The suspension comes after a recent memorandum was signed between Iran and the US, outlining the end of the military conflict that began on February 28 and establishing a timeline for the US to lift its naval blockade and for Iran to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The attack on the cargo ship has raised concerns about the safety of ships in the region, prompting the IMO to put the evacuation on hold. The situation is being closely monitored, and further developments are expected in the coming days.