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3w ago

U.S. Strikes Iran After Reported IRGC Drone Hits Singapore‑Flagged Ship in Strait of Hormuz

The attack and U.S. retaliation threaten the 60‑day memorandum to reopen the strait by testing deconfliction channels and raising the risk of renewed fighting in a key shipping lane.

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MUSCAT, OMAN - JUNE 23: Oil tankers and cargo vessels are anchored off the coast of Oman after being stranded for days as congestion at Port Sultan Qaboos has prevented them from docking on June 23, 2026 in Muscat, Oman. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for the region's oil and gas, was effectively blockaded since the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran in late February. This week's provisional peace deal between the countries was meant to reopen the waterway to shipping traffic, but the pace of that reopening is unclear amid continued fighting in Lebanon and the need to clear the Strait of sea mines. On Sunday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland for high-level talks with the Iranian delegation, as the two sides seek to clarify the terms of ending the war. (Photo by Elke Scholiers/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The Singapore‑flagged M/V Ever Lovely was struck and its bridge damaged when it was hit on Thursday, June 25, but the crew suffered no injuries and the ship’s owner said it remained seaworthy.
  • The International Maritime Organization paused its coordinated evacuation of hundreds of stranded vessels and more than 11,000 seafarers while it reconfirms safety guarantees for ships in the region.
  • U.S. Central Command said American aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar installations on June 26 in direct response to the vessel attack.
  • Iran’s IRGC and the newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority insist ships must use Tehran‑approved routes and warned that passages outside those corridors will not receive safe‑passage guarantees or insurance protection.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for oil and gas traffic and the incident risks reversing recent recovery in ship movements, heightening disruption to global energy supplies and pressure on negotiators to salvage the interim deal.