Cargo Ship Attacked Near Hormuz... Iranian Government Warns: "Only Our Designated Routes Are Safe"

PGSA Issues Statement Following Attack

As the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian government announced that ships using 'unauthorized routes' are not guaranteed safety.

Ships waiting near the Strait of Hormuz on the 18th (local time). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On June 26, the Persian Gulf and Strait Authority (PGSA), under the Iranian government, issued a statement saying, "Ships operating outside the routes designated by Iran are not covered by guarantees for safe passage, insurance, or related liability protection." The statement continued, "Any navigation outside approved routes will be considered unauthorized," warning that "the consequences of such actions rest with the ship owners, operators, and captains."

This statement was released following an attack on a ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing two senior U.S. government officials, reported that the IRGC attacked the Singapore-flagged cargo ship 'Ever Lovely' on that day. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the ship's bridge was damaged, but there were no casualties.

In response to the ship attack, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it has decided to temporarily suspend its plan to evacuate ships and crew from the Strait of Hormuz, which was announced on the 24th, after just one day. Previously, the IMO had initiated an operation to evacuate hundreds of ships and 11,000 crew members from the Strait of Hormuz, with Oman providing a temporary transit route for this purpose.

This attack occurred as the United States and Iran were continuing follow-up discussions after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a ceasefire agreement. The passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz had also been showing signs of recovery. According to the ship tracking company Kpler, 70 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz the previous day, the highest number since the outbreak of the war.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.