Following a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, an International Maritime Organization effort to rescue 11,000 seafarers was disrupted by an attack on a Singaporean vessel. The incident highlights Iran's attempt to establish a new status quo over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy.

The Attack on the Ever Lovely and 11,000 Trapped Seafarers

In late June, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) launched a mission to evacuate more than 11,000 seafarers and their ships from the Strait of Hormuz, which had been effectively closed following U.S. and Israeli strikes in February. To avoid Iranian territory, the IMO directed vessels to hug the coastline of Oman on the southern side of the waterway. According to the report, this opreation was intended to be a coordinated effort involving the maritime industry, the United States, Oman, and Iran.

However,the mission faced a critical setback when the Ever Lovely, a cargo ship flying the Singapore flag, was attacked while utilizing the Oman-adjacent route. While no group has claimed responsibility for the strike, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard criticized the evacuation via the state broadcaster IRIB, asserting that the operation lacked Iranian involvement and that Tehran alone should determine the routes ships take through the strait.

The Vulnerability of the World's 20% Oil and Gas Flow

The strategic stakes of this conflict are rooted in the sheer volume of energy passing through the region. John Canias, a maritime operations coordinator with the International Transport Workers Federation, noted that before the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas moved freely through the Strait of Hormuz. The current Iranian control of the waterway threatens the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation, which is essential for global economic stability.

As the report describes, Tehran appears to be leveraging its geographic position to impose a new operational reality. Rather than treating the strait as an international waterway, Iran is pushing for a system where all incoming and outgoing vessels must coordinate with and receive clearance from the Iranian regime. This shift represents a move away from open transit toward a managed gatekeeper model.

From the Malacca Strait to the Montreux Convention

The struggle over the Strait of Hormuz echoes a broader global tension regarding maritime chokepoints. Todd Huntley, director of the National Security Law Program at Georgetown University, argues that recognizing Iranian control would set a perilous precedent. He suggests that such a move could embolden other nations to claim ownership over vital passages, such as Morocco or the U.K. claiming the Strait of Gibraltar, or Malaysia asserting control over the Malacca Strait.

Ami Daniel, CEO of the maritime intelligence group Windward, warns that unilateral control could turn waterways into weapons for settling territorial disputes. For example, Russia could restrict U.S. ships in the Northern Passage, or China could block American businesses in the Taiwan Straits. While some regions have safeguards—such as the Montreux Convention managing the Turkish Straits or regional agreements in Southeast Asia—the Strait of Hormuz lacks similar diplomatic insurance. Furthermore, neither the U.S. nor Iran has ratified the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, leaving a legal vacuum that increases the risk of conflict.

Who Targeted the Singapore-Flagged Ever Lovely?

Despite the high tensions and the public criticism from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a central mystery remains: who actually attacked the Ever Lovely? The source reports that no party has claimed responsibility, leaving it unclear whether the attack was a direct Iranian warning or the work of a third-party actor capitalizing on the chaos. Additionally, the report focuses primarily on the perspectives of Western analysts and Iranian state media, leaving the official position of the Singaporean government or the owners of the Ever Lovely unaddressed.