US-Iran War Live Updates: Tensions in the Gulf have flared again after a merchant vessel reported coming under attack near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to temporarily suspend its ship evacuation programme and raising fresh doubts over the durability of the preliminary ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.
Two US officials told Reuters that Iran had fired on the vessel, while a security source said it was likely targeted by a drone. There was no immediate response from Tehran.
The incident came hours after Iran warned that vessels must use shipping routes designated by Tehran to transit the Strait of Hormuz, saying those using unauthorised routes would not be guaranteed safe passage. The IMO said it had paused its evacuation initiative to reconfirm safety guarantees for ships awaiting passage through the strategic waterway.
The reported attack pushed benchmark oil prices about 2% higher, reviving concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, which handled around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the conflict.
The developments also cast fresh uncertainty over negotiations between Washington and Tehran, with key issues including sanctions, Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the waterway still unresolved.
Follow CNBC-TV18’s live blog for the latest developments from the US-Iran negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel-Lebanon tensions.
