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IMO Hormuz Evacuation Plan Paused After Ever Lovely Attack

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The International Maritime Organization's evacuation plan for the Strait of Hormuz remains suspended after the containership Ever Lovely was struck by a projectile on June 25. Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez halted the initiative despite vessels continuing to transit both the Omani southern route and Iranian northern route. The attack occurred hours after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy declared only the northern route legitimate.

Dominguez confirmed the Ever Lovely was not participating in the evacuation corridor and had made its own risk assessment. During the brief operational period, 115 vessels carrying approximately 2,500 seafarers successfully exited the Gulf region. Several ships initially turned back following IRGC statements but later resumed their voyages, including the Panama-flagged SG Pegasus which switched routes after the incident.

President Trump labeled the attack a violation of ceasefire terms, claiming Iran launched four attack drones at shipping. While the IMO seeks renewed safety guarantees from all parties, maritime traffic persists through both corridors. Dominguez emphasized ongoing investigations into the discrepancy between diplomatic assurances and IRGC actions, stating the pause protects seafarer safety until trust can be restored.

The situation reveals tensions between military declarations and commercial navigation rights in one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints. Dominguez stressed the need for advance dialogue to address concerns before implementing any corridor strategy.