Cargo ship reports suspected attack while crossing Hormuz

A cargo ship has reported a suspected attack as it navigated the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil transport. The incident occurred on Thursday near the coast of Oman, according to the British Navy agency UKMTO.

The vessel, identified as the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely, was reportedly struck on its starboard side by a projectile approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman's port of Dahit. British maritime security company Ambrey assessed the incident as an attack based on initial assessments. The strike caused damage to the ship's bridge, though no casualties or environmental impact were reported.

Maritime security sources suggest the vessel may have been targeted by a drone, but the perpetrator remains unclear. The incident occurred shortly after Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated on Thursday that safe passage through the strait would only be possible via routes designated by Iran, warning of action against non-compliant vessels. This statement heightened tensions in a region already grappling with the ongoing Iran war, which began in late February.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously warned of potential problems if Iran threatened or blocked ships in the strait. Following the suspected attack, oil prices saw a slight increase of about 1%, as analysts noted renewed concerns about the potential duration of disruptions to Gulf oil flows.

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If Iran threatens or blocks ships in the strait, "then we're going to have a problem."