President Donald Trump has accused Iran of violating its ceasefire agreement with the United States after a commercial cargo ship was struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the stability of the recently brokered truce and prompted international authorities to pause an evacuation effort for thousands of stranded sailors.

Trump Claims Iran Launched Drone Attack

In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that Iran launched at least four drones at commercial vessels traveling through the strategic waterway.

According to the president, U.S. forces intercepted three of the drones, while a fourth struck a cargo ship.

“Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” Trump wrote.

He added that although the ship sustained damage, it was able to continue its voyage.

Cargo Ship Suffers Limited Damage

The vessel involved was identified as the Ever Lovely, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship.

According to its owner, the ship suffered limited damage after being struck by what British maritime security agency UKMTO described as an “unknown projectile” approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit.

The company confirmed that:

  • All crew members were unharmed.
  • The vessel remained seaworthy.
  • The cargo was not affected.
  • The ship safely continued through the Strait of Hormuz.

IMO Suspends Evacuation Operation

Following the attack, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) temporarily halted its operation to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the region.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said discussions are ongoing with the United States, Iran and Oman to obtain security guarantees before the evacuation resumes.

Before the pause, 115 vessels carrying approximately 2,500 seafarers had successfully crossed the strait under the organization’s framework.

Iran Warned Ships Before the Incident

Before the attack, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that ships using an IMO-designated transit route through the Strait of Hormuz should instead coordinate directly with Iranian authorities.

Iranian state media also reported renewed claims that the strategically important waterway falls under Iran’s territorial authority.

Tehran has not directly responded to Trump’s accusation that it violated the ceasefire.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil and natural gas shipments.

The waterway reopened earlier this month after the United States and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement following months of conflict.

As part of that agreement, Iran pledged to make its best efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels for 60 days.

However, Tehran has continued to insist it intends to charge what it describes as maritime service fees for ships crossing the strait—a proposal strongly opposed by the United States.

The latest incident now raises fresh questions about the durability of the ceasefire and the safety of one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.