Strait of Hormuz shipping recovery stalls as mines and renewed attacks threaten key oil route

Jun 26, 2026

A fragile shipping recovery in the Strait of Hormuz has stalled after the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely was struck by an Iranian drone off Oman. In response, the International Maritime Organization suspended its humanitarian plan to evacuate 500 stranded vessels. Iran is demanding all ships use its northern route, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has visited Bahrain to reassure Gulf allies of American commitment to securing alternative southern corridors.

Strait of Hormuz evacuation suspension

▪The International Maritime Organization suspended its humanitarian evacuation plan for stranded ships in the Strait of Hormuz on June 25, 2026.
▪The International Maritime Organization and the United Nations had launched an effort to evacuate 11,000 stranded seafarers and 500 vessels from the Persian Gulf.

Iranian drone attack Ever Lovely

▪United States officials stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out the strike on the Ever Lovely using an Iranian drone.
▪The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that the Ever Lovely sustained damage, but no injuries or environmental effects occurred.
▪The Singapore-flagged Evergreen container ship Ever Lovely was struck by a projectile on its starboard side off the coast of Oman on June 25, 2026.

Iran shipping route control claims

▪The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that all vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use its northern route and comply with Iranian routing instructions.
▪Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned that transit outside its designated routes would not be covered by its guarantee of safe passage.

U.S.-Iran interim peace negotiations

▪The United States and Iran signed a preliminary peace agreement last week that included a 60-day window to negotiate terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
▪The United States lifted sanctions on Iranian oil earlier in the week of June 22, 2026, as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Rubio Gulf allies reassurance visit

▪United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington is committed to the new shipping route and ensuring that ships are able to transit the strait.
▪United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain to assure them that their security interests would be protected.

Israel-Hezbollah Lebanon ceasefire violations

▪The Israeli military reported that a reservist soldier was killed in southern Lebanon during operations targeting suspected Hezbollah members.
▪Lebanon's health ministry reported that Israeli strikes killed five people over two days, including three people in a car in southern Lebanon.