A ship was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, just hours after several freighters turned around while attempting to cross the vital waterway. This incident occurred despite a recent agreement between Iran and the US to end their conflict, which had led to increased tanker traffic in the strait. Oil prices reacted to the news, with Brent crude touching session highs above $75 a barrel.
This attack comes shortly after a period of increased confidence among shipowners and traders to send vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Just a few days prior, on June 23rd, 2026, Bloomberg reported that more ships were transiting the Strait with their satellite signals switched on, indicating growing confidence following the peace deal. Seven tankers, including two fully-laden non-Iranian supertankers, were either in or had crossed the Strait on Tuesday, all broadcasting their locations.
However, the United Nations agency paused its planned evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz following the projectile attack. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported the unnamed cargo ship sustained damage to its bridge while sailing southeast of Oman. The head of the International Maritime Organization stated that the evacuation plan for stranded ships would be on hold until safety guarantees could be confirmed. This attack adds to the volatility in the region, with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly warning against using routes not authorized by Tehran.
The incident transpired even though a new route laid out by Oman and the International Maritime Organization, a UN agency, had seen increased usage. Oil tankers, including the Stoic Warrior and Maersk Baltimore, had successfully used this route. Last week alone, 125 vessels crossed the strait, a significant increase from 33 the week prior. However, Iran's naval arm issued a warning, calling the new route "unacceptable and completely dangerous" and stating that the only authorized route is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
