Cargo ship hit in Strait of Hormuz as Trump blames Iran for ceasefire breach
United States President Donald Trump has accused Iran of carrying out a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire after a cargo vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz. The British military said a vessel was hit by a projectile off Oman, while Trump said one drone hit the upper deck of a large cargo ship and that three other drones were intercepted by US forces. The ship was identified in the report as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, owned by Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine.
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The vessel had been stranded in the Gulf for more than 100 days after loading cargo in Iraq, according to the supplied report. No crew members were injured and the ship was able to continue its voyage after the strike. The attack took place near Oman, in one of the world's most sensitive shipping corridors, where even a limited incident can quickly affect traffic and confidence among operators.
The report says the strike came at a fragile moment in US-Iran relations, with the two sides negotiating an interim peace deal and working under a 60-day memorandum of understanding. That arrangement was described as including steps to lift naval blockades and open the Strait of Hormuz to free passage while talks continue on Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief. The incident also halted International Maritime Organization efforts to escort hundreds of stranded vessels out of the Gulf, where more than 11,000 seafarers have been trapped for months.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy and commercial shipping, and the latest attack adds to concerns that maritime incidents could undermine diplomatic efforts. The report says the Ever Lovely had taken a southern route along the Omani coast rather than corridors designated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which had earlier ordered commercial vessels to coordinate directly with the Iranian Navy. Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but two US officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Iran fired on the ship.
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The incident also comes after Iran objected to what it called an "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative" statement by the United States and six Gulf states rejecting its claim that it could charge tolls on vessels transiting the strait. That dispute shows how shipping access through the waterway remains tied to wider political and security tensions. The presence of maritime monitoring bodies, naval forces and diplomatic negotiators underlines how quickly a single strike can become an international issue.
What remains unclear is the exact weapon used, whether the damage was limited to the upper deck and bridge, and whether there will be any further restrictions on shipping through the strait. It is also not yet clear whether Iran will issue a formal response or whether the ceasefire talks will be affected. Further statements from maritime authorities and governments will be needed to establish the full scale of the incident and its impact on the wider negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz has seen another maritime security incident after a cargo ship was hit on its starboard side by an unknown projectile near Oman. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said the strike caused damage to the bridge, but reported no casualties. The vessel was struck about 14 kilometres off Oman's coast, underscoring how close the incident was to a major shipping corridor.
The latest account adds detail to earlier reports that a drone attack targeted a cargo vessel in the waterway. US President Donald Trump said on social media that Iran had carried out a "foolish" violation of the Middle East ceasefire, saying one drone hit the upper deck of a large cargo-carrying ship while three others were shot down. The timing of the comments suggests the attack is being treated as part of the wider fallout from the ceasefire, rather than as an isolated maritime event.
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The International Maritime Organization then said it was suspending efforts to evacuate about 600 ships and 11,000 sailors trapped in the Gulf by the war. That pause highlights the scale of the disruption facing commercial shipping in one of the world's most important energy routes. Tracking data cited in the report showed traffic through the strait had fallen from a recent high, although vessels were still using alternative passages along Oman's coast.
The incident matters because the Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for oil, gas and other commodity shipments. Even limited attacks can affect routing decisions, insurance costs and confidence among ship operators. The report also points to the continuing risk that maritime incidents could complicate ceasefire efforts and broader diplomatic contacts in the region.
The supplied material says the ceasefire took effect on April 8, but also notes that sporadic violence has continued in the Gulf, including attacks on ships and US strikes on Iran. It also says the war was launched by the US and Israel on February 28, placing the shipping disruption within a wider conflict environment. The presence of multiple actors, including maritime monitoring bodies and the UN agency responsible for shipping safety, shows how quickly a single vessel attack can become an international issue.
What remains unclear is who carried out the strike, what type of projectile was used, and whether the damage was confined to the bridge and upper deck. It is also not clear whether the vessel was able to continue its voyage without assistance. Further statements from maritime authorities, Iran, or other governments will be needed to establish the full scale of the incident and whether shipping through the strait will face more restrictions.
US President Donald Trump said Iran launched attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, describing the incident as a violation of a ceasefire agreement. He said at least four vessels were targeted by one-way attack drones. One drone, he said, struck the upper deck of a large cargo-carrying ship.
Trump made the comments on his Truth Social account on Friday, saying the US had knocked down three other drones. He said the ship that was hit was damaged but was still able to continue on its way. The reported attack took place in one of the world's most sensitive shipping lanes, where a large share of global energy trade passes through.
The incident comes as the US and Iran are negotiating a peace deal after signing a memorandum of understanding, according to the supplied report. Trump's description of the strike as a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire agreement suggests the maritime attack could complicate those talks. The reported targeting of commercial vessels also raises immediate concerns for shipping companies, insurers and naval forces monitoring traffic through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz has long been a flashpoint in regional tensions because of its strategic importance to international trade. Any disruption there can quickly affect shipping routes and market confidence, even when vessels are able to continue after an attack. The latest report adds to the wider pattern of maritime insecurity in the Gulf, where commercial traffic has repeatedly been exposed to political and military risk.
The account provided does not say who was operating the drones, whether any crew members were injured, or whether the damage was limited to the single vessel Trump described. It also does not give an independent assessment of the attack or confirm the extent of the wider disruption. What happens next will depend on whether there is an official response from Iran, further details from maritime authorities, or any change in the ceasefire and peace talks.
For now, the key questions are whether the reported drone launches were part of a broader escalation and how the US and Iran will respond diplomatically. The incident is likely to be watched closely by shipping operators moving through the Gulf and by governments concerned about the security of the strait. Any confirmation of further damage or additional targets would increase the significance of the episode.
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